Maxillary sinus floor augmentation: a review of current evidence on anatomical factors and a decision tree

One-Stage Surgical Management of an Asymptomatic Maxillary Sinus Mucocele with Immediate Lateral Sinus Lift and Simultaneous Implant Placement: A Case Report

Background: The relationship between dental implants and sinus mucoceles is an area of growing interest in oral and maxillofacial surgery, as therapeutic approaches for these conditions remain controversial. This case report presents a 48-year-old male with no significant medical history who sought dental care due to recurrent abscesses on the distal abutment of a five-unit maxillary bridge. Clinical and radiographic evaluations, including Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT), revealed a pathologic lesion associated with the second molar, insufficient alveolar bone height in the posterior maxilla, and a radiopaque mass on the sinus floor. Methods: A one-stage surgical approach was planned, involving the second molar extraction, the sinus cyst removal, sinus floor elevation, and simultaneous implant placement. The prosthetic restoration was completed six months postoperatively. Results: Over an 88-month follow-up period, no prosthetic complications were observed, and the patient reported high satisfaction with the restoration's function and aesthetics. Conclusions: This case highlights a single-stage surgical strategy's feasibility and long-term success in managing asymptomatic maxillary sinus mucoceles while optimizing implant placement and rehabilitation.

Changes in Maxillary Sinus Structure Due to Tooth Loss and the Effects of Sex and Aging on CBCT Before Maxillary Sinus Augmentation: A Cross-Sectional Study of 120 Patients

Prosthesis for missing maxillary molars with dental implants often requires maxillary sinus augmentation owing to insufficient alveolar bone height. However, the anatomical structure of the maxillary sinus is a significant risk factor. This study used preoperative cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to investigate changes in the anatomical structure of the maxillary sinus due to tooth loss and conducted an epidemiological survey of Japanese people to determine the effects of gender and age on these changes. Preoperative CBCT scans were analyzed in patients aged ≥ 50 years with free-end maxillary molar edentulism involving ≥ 2 missing teeth seeking implant treatment. Statistical analyses were performed. One hundred and twenty participants (46 males, 74 females; mean age, 62.1 ± 7.4 years) with 3.0 ± 0.9 missing teeth and an existing bone volume of 6.2 ± 3.1 mm were included. Lateral wall thickness, sinus angle, sinus membrane thickness, maxillary sinus length and width, and the presence of the sinus septa significantly differed between missing and non-missing sides. Maxillary sinus height and sinus membrane thickness on missing side and maxillary sinus height and width on non-missing side varied significantly. Aging was associated with maxillary sinus length and width changes on the non-missing side in males, whereas no age-associated effects were identified in females. To ensure the safe execution of maxillary sinus augmentation, a thorough understanding of maxillary sinus anatomy is crucial prior to surgery.

Biomechanical analysis of maxillary posterior three unit bridge supported misial straight implant and distal tilted implant

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the stress distribution in bone tissue, implant, abutment, screw, and bridge restoration when the mesial implant is placed axially and the distal implant is inserted at varying angles in the posterior maxillary region with free-end partial dentition defects, using three-dimensional finite element analysis.

Materials and methods

Cone-beam computed-tomography were utilized to create 3D reconstruction models of the maxilla. Stereolithography data of dental implants and accessories were used to design a three-unit full zirconia bridge for the maxillary model. The 3D models were imported into ANSYS Workbench 23.0 software for mesh generation and material property definition. Five different distal implant implantation directions were designed: Inner Tilting 30° group, Inner Tilting 17° group, Parallel group, External Tilting 17° group, and External Tilting 30° group. The models consisted of cortical bone, trabecular bone, implants, abutments, central screws, prosthesis screws, and prostheses. Material properties were assumed to be isotropic, homogeneous, and linearly elastic. The maxillary models were subjected to strict fixation restrictions, and the implants were considered fully osseointegrated. Two loading types were set in ANSYS Workbench 23.0: a vertical load of 300N and a lateral load of 300N at a 45°angle to the implant.

Results

Under vertical loading, the parallel group exhibited the lowest maximum stress across all implants, crowns, abutments and screws. Greater tilt angles increased abutment stress, with the external tilting 30° group reaching 1,426 MPa (close to titanium alloy's yield strength). Smaller angles of both external tilting and inner tilting shifted stress to implants from abutment and screw. During lateral loading, the external tilting 30° group showed catastrophic stress escalation (abutment: 8,612 MPa), exceeding titanium's yield limit. Bone stress remained physiological except for the internal tilting 30° group under lateral loading (142 MPa).

Conclusion

The parallel group demonstrated the least stress accumulation in all components and bone tissues. Internal tilting of the distal implant is biomechanically preferable to external tilting, and a smaller tilt angle is recommended when external tilting is necessary. This study provides valuable reference data for optimizing implant angulation in patients with the loss of three posterior maxillary teeth, potentially reducing long-term complications associated with implant-fixed bridges.

The effect of autologous platelet concentrates as solely grafting material or with bone graft materials in maxillary sinus augmentation: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVES

This study compared the effectiveness of adding autologous platelet concentrates (APCs(+)) and sole bone grafting procedures (APCs(-)) in maxillary sinus augmentation (MSA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic search was performed to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from electronic database and clinical registers published up to June 1, 2024. Six evaluation indices comprising percentage of new bone formation (NBF%), percentage of residual bone substitute (RBS%), percentage of fibrous tissue (FT%), implant stability quotient (ISQ), bone height (BH) and bone density (BD) were identified.

RESULTS

We analyzed 14 studies involving 268 lifted sinuses and 119 implants. Compared with the APCs(-) group, the APCs(+) group demonstrated a significant advantage regarding NBF% (weight mean difference (MD)= 4.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.82,8.32), p=0.007) and RBS% (MD=-4.48, 95% CI (-6.01,2.96), p<0.01), with no evident superiority in FT% (MD=-0.11, 95% CI (-0.56,0.35), p=0.64), ISQ (MD=-1.68, 95% CI (-6.77,3.40), p=0.52) and BH (standard mean difference (SMD) =-0.11, 95% CI (-3.04,2.83), p=0.94). While APCs(-) group showed a significant benefit in BD compared to the APCs(+) group (MD=-28.34, 95% CI (-48.98,-7.71), p=0.01).

CONCLUSION

Compared with APCs(-), APCs(+) could be a better option for promoting NBF% and reducing RBS%, whereas we found no evident influence in FT% and ISQ under MSA. Concerning BD and BH results, there were no additional effects with the addition of APCs, which needs to be treated with caution due to the limited number of studies.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

APCs(+) procedures show promising results, with a higher NBF% and lower RBS%, making them a potential routine MSA strategy.

Effect of initial bone morphology on alveolar bone remodeling following molar extraction: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND

The clinical evidence about alveolar ridge changes following molar extraction and how the alveolar bone morphology influences the ridge dimensional changes remains limited.

METHODS

A total of 192 patients with 199 molar extractions were included in this retrospective study. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of patients were obtained 0-3 months pre extraction and 6-12 months post extraction. Outcome variables included the change rate in ridge height and width. The effect of morphology on the outcomes was explored by single-factor analysis, correlation analysis, and a multiple linear regression model.

RESULTS

Significant resorption of alveolar bone occurred vertically and horizontally after molar extraction. Jaw, furcation involvement, number of roots, number of bone wall defects, extraction reasons, overall relative bone loss (RBL), bone height of the furcation region, thickness of the lingual/palatal wall, and height difference between buccal and lingual/palatal walls (|HB-HL|) were significantly correlated with the change in the height of the central alveolar bone (HC). The number of bone wall defects, overall RBL, and |HB-HL| were significantly correlated with horizontal width change. HC resorption was higher in sockets with |HB-HL| > 2.5 mm and overall RBL > 50%.

CONCLUSIONS

The alveolar bone presented significant resorption after extraction. Anatomical characteristics affected the dimensions of the alveolar bone after molar extraction. When the initial overall RBL was severe or |HB-HL| was larger, the loss of alveolar bone dimensions was even more.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY

In recent years, it has been demonstrated that the local anatomical morphology of extraction sites may influence the process of alveolar bone remodeling. However, most studies have focused on the anterior teeth, with fewer investigations addressing molar extraction sites. Therefore, we aimed to describe ridge changes following molar extraction and investigate how alveolar bone morphology influences ridge dimensional changes. In this retrospective study, we included a total of 199 alveolar sockets from 192 patients with molar extractions and obtained the corresponding cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images 0-3 months pre extraction and 6-12 months post extraction. The results showed significant resorption of the alveolar bone following molar extraction. We found that anatomical characteristics significantly affect the dimensions of the alveolar bone after molar extraction. Specifically, the loss of alveolar bone dimensions was greater when the initial overall relative bone loss (RBL) was severe or when the difference between buccal and lingual/palatal walls was greater.

A platform combining automatic segmentation and automatic measurement of the maxillary sinus and adjacent structures

OBJECTIVES

To develop a platform including a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) for automatic segmentation of the maxillary sinus (MS) and adjacent structures, and automatic algorithms for measuring 3-dimensional (3D) clinical parameters.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

175 CBCTs containing 242 MS were used as the training, validating and testing datasets at the ratio of 7:1:2. The datasets contained healthy MS and MS with mild (2-4 mm), moderate (4-10 mm) and severe (10- mm) mucosal thickening. A DCNN algorithm adopting 2.5D structure was trained for automatic segmentation. Automatic measuring algorithms were further developed to evaluate the clinical reliability of the DCNN.

RESULTS

The median Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) for the air cavity, mucosa, teeth and maxillary bone segmentation were 0.990, 0.850, 0.961 and 0.953, respectively. The Intra-class Correlation Coefficien (ICC) of all automatic measuring algorithms exceeded 0.975. The 95% confidence interval (95%CI) of all volumetric metric bias were within ± 0.5 cm3, of all 2D metric bias were within ± 1 mm. The DCNN also produced satisfying outcome for notably incomplete MS and edentulous alveolar crest.

CONCLUSIONS

The DCNN provided clinically reliable results. The automatic measuring algorithms could reveal 3D information embedded in CBCT 2D planes on the basis of automatic segmentation.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

This platform helps dentists to conduct instant 3D reconstruction and automatic measuring of 3D clinical parameters of MS and adjacent structures.

Effect of alveolar ridge preservation at periodontally compromised molar extraction sockets: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

To date, the clinical evidence regarding the effectiveness of alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) in restricting alveolar bone height and width change after extraction at periodontally compromised molar extraction sockets still remains controversial. This retrospective cohort study aims to evaluate the effect of ARP in molars extracted for periodontal reasons.

METHODS

Retrospective data were collected from patient electronic records from January 2019 to December 2023. Patients with Stage III/IV periodontitis who underwent extraction of molars for periodontal reasons were screened for eligibility. The outcomes included the horizontal and vertical dimensions of alveolar bone. The need for additional augmentation procedure during implantation was also evaluated. A linear regression model was used to adjust for known confounders.

RESULTS

A total of 80 sockets were included in this study, of which 27 sockets received ARP therapy after extraction while 53 sockets experienced natural healing (NH). ARP resulted in significantly less bone height change in the periodontally compromised molar sites compared to the NH group (p < 0.001). In sockets displaying a height disparity of >2 mm between the buccal and palatal/lingual walls, the ARP group exhibited advantageous outcomes in terms of ridge width change, surpassing the NH group (p = 0.004). Moreover, the percentage for additional augmentation was significantly reduced in the ARP compared to the NH group (p = 0.006). Age, sex, smoking, jaw, location, and buccal wall thickness did not show any significant effect on bone height change.

CONCLUSION

ARP had benefits on limiting ridge resorption subsequent to molar extraction for periodontal reasons.

Influence of Schneiderian membrane perforation during maxillary sinus floor augmentation with lateral approach on dental implant survival rates: a retrospective study in a university setting

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of this study was to compare implant survival rates (ISR) in patients undergoing maxillary sinus floor augmentation (MSFA) with lateral approach with and without membrane perforation. Secondary objectives were to establish the percentage of perforations in these procedures and to evaluate the influence of perforation size on ISR.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included patients requiring MSFA with lateral approach. Cases were assigned to two groups according to the occurrence or not of perforation. The exact size of each perforation was registered. Descriptive statistics and associations between the groups were calculated.

RESULTS

This study analyzed data from 90 MSFA in 72 patients. Membrane perforation occurred in 24.44%. A total of 170 implants were placed; 72.35% were placed under intact membranes and 27.65% on repaired membranes. The overall ISR in MSFA procedures with intact membranes was 98.37%, and 93.62% in perforated membranes. No statistically significant relationship between groups was observed although the odds of implant failure increased by 4.125 times when perforation occurred. In turn, no statistically significant relationship was observed between perforation size and ISR.

CONCLUSIONS

Implants inserted below repaired membranes had a lower ISR compared with implants inserted below intact membranes although the difference was not statistically significant. Moreover, no significant statistical correlation was observed between perforation size and ISR.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Membrane perforation does not have a significant influence on subsequent implant survival rates. Knowledge of the exact size of the membrane perforation is essential for deciding on the right treatment plan.

Osseodensification versus piezoelectric internal sinus elevation (PISE) technique in delayed implant placement (a randomized controlled clinical trial)

Transalveolar sinus elevation is a minimally invasive technique aimed at augmenting the vertical bone height in the posterior maxilla, facilitating successful implant placement in areas with insufficient bone volume. This study compares the efficacy of osseodensification and piezoelectric internal sinus elevation (PISE) techniques in delayed implant placement. The primary objective was to radiographically assess vertical bone gain and bone density, while secondary objectives included clinical assessment of primary implant stability and post-operative satisfaction of both patients and operators. The study population of a total of 16 patients was randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 underwent osseodensification sinus lift using sticky bone as a graft material, whereas Group 2 received PISE with the same graft material. Results indicated that the osseodensification technique led to greater bone gain, improved bone density, and shorter surgical duration. Additionally, osseodensification was associated with enhanced rapid healing and higher patient satisfaction. Conversely, the PISE technique demonstrated superior primary stability of implants on the day of surgery. These findings suggest that while both techniques are effective, osseodensification may offer advantages in terms of bone gain, density, and patient satisfaction, making it a reliable method for enhancing rapid healing in delayed implant placement. the study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov at 26th September 2023 and clinical trials ID is NCT06055127.

Crestal approach for maxillary sinus augmentation in individuals with limited alveolar bone height: An observational study

In cases where the bone presence is <4 mm, the lateral approach is typically the first approach considered. Nevertheless, for patients who prefer minimally invasive procedures or wish to reduce postoperative discomfort, the crestal approach is a viable option. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of crestal sinus augmentation for achieving adequate bone in individuals with residual bone measuring <3 mm. The study comprised 11 participants (63.6 ± 10.9 years of age) who were treated at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital between 2021 and 2023 and received crestal approach sinus augmentation due to insufficient bone density of <3 mm using the crestal approach kit. Pre-augmentation and post-augmentation cone-beam computed tomographic images were analyzed using the imaging software to measure vertical bone height, bucco-palatal width, and mesio-distal width. Before the intervention, the height of the vertical bone was 2.1 ± 0.5 mm, while the width from buccal to palatal was 10.6 ± 2.9 mm, and the width from mesial to distal was 9.9 ± 1.2 mm. Following the intervention, these measurements increased to 8.8 ± 0.9 mm, 12.2 ± 2.2 mm, and 10.2 ± 1.2 mm, respectively. The change in height of the vertical bone was 6.7 ± 1.0 mm, in bucco-palatal width was 1.6 ± 1.4 mm, and in mesio-distal width was 0.3 ± 0.4 mm. The results revealed a significant rise in the height of the vertical bone and bucco-palatal width. Crestal sinus augmentation has been demonstrated to be a highly effective approach for achieving an adequate quantity of bone in patients with residual bone <3 mm. Nonetheless, further observation is required to evaluate the long-term prognosis of the procedures.

Clinical outcomes of implants placed with transcrestal maxillary sinus elevation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis assesses the clinical outcomes of implants inserted during or following transcrestal sinus lifts. The study protocol was prospectively registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024504513). PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus databases were searched up to 21 February 2024, and randomised clinical trials utilising transcrestal sinus lifts were included. Qualitative and quantitative syntheses were conducted. A random effects model was used to pool the survival rate of implants placed with transcrestal sinus lifts using hand osteotomes without grafting, along with meta-regression and subgroup analyses. Funnel plots and Egger's linear regression were used to explore possible publication bias. Probabilities of less than 0.05 were considered significant. A total of 1807 records were identified after the initial search. Seventeen studies were included with 10 of them considered for meta-analysis. Studies used hand osteotomes, a combination of piezoelectric and hand osteotomes, drills, and smart lifts for sinus elevation. Only studies that used hand osteotomes reported subsequent vertigo and dizziness in patients. The meta-analysis showed a 100% (95% CI: 99% to 100%) survival rate for both grafted and non-grafted transcrestal sinus lifts using hand osteotomes. Meta-regression showed that follow-up time did not significantly affect the implants' survival. Subgroup analyses showed no significant difference between bone-level and tissue-level implants and one-stage or two-stage implants. On considering the limitations of this study it can be concluded that closed maxillary sinus elevation can be considered a relatively safe technique that is associated with a high survival rate. However, caution should be taken when using hand osteotomes because of a higher rate of sinus lining perforation and reported patient vertigo.

Anatomical Factors Affecting the Complexity of Maxillary Sinus Augmentation in Saudi Patients: A Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) Study

AIM

This study aims to evaluate the anatomical variations of the maxillary sinus and determine the difficulty score of maxillary sinus augmentation (MSA) in Saudi patients seeking dental implant rehabilitation of the posterior maxilla using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).

METHODOLOGY

CBCT records of dental patients seeking treatment at a University Dental Teaching Hospital between 2019 and 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Measurements were obtained from CBCT images, including membrane thickness, sinus width, buccal bone thickness, presence of maxillary sinus septa, residual alveolar ridge height, angle of the buccolingual sinus wall, and the presence of the alveolar antral artery (AAA). The difficulty score for MSA was determined based on these anatomical factors.

RESULTS

A total of 107 maxillary sinuses in 86 subjects were evaluated. The average membrane thickness was 2.23 mm, with males showing significantly higher thickness than females. Sinus septa were found in 54 (50.5%) sinuses, with 18 (17%) of sinuses having interfering septa. Twenty-three (21.5%) sinuses had a residual alveolar ridge height of less than 4 mm. The average angle of the buccolingual sinus wall was 79.39°, indicating a high prevalence of wide-shaped sinuses. The average sinus width was 14.09 mm, with 55 sinuses (51.4%) less than 15 mm. The average buccal bone thickness was 1.07 mm, in 29 (27%) sinuses, the thickness was more than 2 mm. AAA was visualized in 60 (56%) of sinuses, with 45 (42%) of sinuses having AAA interfering with the MSA window.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, most sinuses were classified as simple or moderate difficulty, with higher membrane thickness, presence of septa, and AAA being the significant risk factors for complications. These findings provide valuable insights for implant surgeons in Saudi patients seeking dental implant rehabilitation of the posterior maxilla, enabling them to anticipate and minimize potential complications during MSA procedures.

Comprehensive sinus contour classification and its characteristics from radiographic examination: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to propose a comprehensive maxillary sinus (MS) contour classification system based on the evaluation of anatomical characteristics from cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) examination and investigate the relationship between sinus contours and sinus floor elevation (SFE).

METHODS

A total of 283 CBCT scans from patients who had single tooth loss in the posterior maxilla and underwent SFE were analyzed. The MS was classified at each tooth position. For buccal-palatal evaluation, the classification from Type A to E was narrow-taper, taper, ovoid, square, and irregular, respectively. For mesial-distal evaluation, the classification from Type 1 to 4 was flat, slope, concave, and septa, respectively. The major anatomical parameters evaluated were (1) residual bone height (RBH), (2) sinus width (SW), (3) maxillary sinus angle (MSA), (4) buccal dip angle (BDA), (5) palatonasal recess (PNR), and (6) sinus depth.

RESULTS

Eleven groups of MS contour were classified after detailed calculation. Differences in the RBH, MSA, BDA, and SW among different groups were statistically significant. The narrow-taper and slope MS (A2) group had the highest RBH (8.66 ± 0.77 mm), largest BDA (79.9° ± 3.18°), smallest MSA (19.8° ± 2.01°), and narrowest SW (6.30 ± 1.23 mm). The lowest RBH was in the square and concave sinus (D3) group (5.11 ± 2.70 mm). The ovoid and concave sinus (C3) group had the smallest BDA (50.64 ± 8.73 mm) and largest MSA (74.11° ± 11.52°). The square and flat MS (D1) group had the widest SW (19.13 ± 3.69 mm). A strongly significant positive correlation was observed between the SW and MSA (r = 0.67) and a strongly negative correlation between the SW and BDA (r = - 0.65). The prevalence of PNR (mean angle: 104.06° ± 16.83°, mean height: 14.72 ± 11.78 mm) was 38% and frequently observed in the ovoid and slope MS (C2) group.

CONCLUSION

Despite certain characteristics at different tooth sites, the same tooth position was categorized differently using different classification systems, indicating large anatomical variations in the MS. The classification system proposed herein allows for classification based on general characteristics at a single tooth site, aiming to help surgeons in improving presurgical evaluation.

Association between maxillary sinus floor perforation by dental implants and mucosal thickening: A cone-beam computed tomography study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association of perforation of the maxillary sinus floor by dental implants with mucosal thickening and to describe its characteristics in perforated cases.

STUDY DESIGN

One-hundred and twenty-nine maxillary sinuses of 93 patients presenting 202 dental implants in the maxillary posterior region were retrospectively assessed in cone-beam computed tomography scans and classified according to maxillary sinus perforation, bone graft, mucosal thickening, and mucosal appearance. Logistic regression determined the chance of mucosal thickening in perforated maxillary sinuses. The chi-square test compared categorical variables between maxillary sinus perforated or not by implants and maxillary sinus with or without mucosal thickening. The significance level assumed was 5 % (α = 0.05).

RESULTS

There was perforation of 60 maxillary sinuses floor (46.5 %) by 74 dental implants. The chance of mucosal thickening was higher when the implant tip was trespassing on the maxillary sinus floor (p < 0.001). There was a significant association between maxillary sinus mucosal thickening and perforation by a dental implant with the tip trespassing the maxillary sinus floor (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Maxillary sinus mucosal thickening is associated with sinus floor perforation by dental implants and does not depend on the number of implants perforating it.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

There is an association between dental implants' perforation of the maxillary sinus floor and the thickening of the maxillary sinus. In those cases, the appearance of the mucosa thickening may be irregular, local, or total opacification of the sinus cavity.

Radiographic assessment of maxillary sinus membrane and lateral wall thickness using cone-beam CT in different facial types in southwestern Saudi Arabia

The anatomy of the edentulous posterior maxilla and maxillary sinus possess unique challenges in implant dentistry. The purpose of this study was to assess maxillary sinus membrane thickness (MT) and lateral wall thickness (LWT) in different facial index profiles and to describe the clinical implications. A retrospective image analysis of 75 CBCT scans was done, which yielded a total of 150 sinus images. The facial index was calculated as per the formula given in the text and grouped as euryprosopic, mesoprosopic and leptoprosopic. The images obtained were of 36 women (48%) and 39 men (52%), with maximum subjects in 30-39 years age group. MT and LWT were measured at three different points on the radiograph at every 3mm from the base of the sinus floor in premolar and molar regions of each image. Results showed females had significant differences from males in LWT in both premolar and molar regions (p = 0.018 and 0.032 respectively). Subjects in 40-49 years of age had significant differences (p = 0.021) in MT in premolar region only. Also, difference in MT in premolar and molar regions were also statistically significant. Lastly, the present study did not find any statistically significant difference in MT and LWT in all three facial indices groups. It can be concluded that different facial indices have no positive correlation with maxillary sinus membrane thickness and lateral wall thickness. Hence, surgical complications are avoidable with proper detailed knowledge and appropriate identification of the anatomic structures characteristic to the maxillary sinus.