Evaluation Of Maxillary Sinus In Partially Edentulous Patients Using Panoramic Radiography And Computed Tomography

Abstract

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND-Alveolar bone atrophy after tooth loss tends to be rapid and irreversible. Atrophic alveolar bone fails to provide a stable support also for removable dentures. Sometimes posterior maxillary alveolar bone atrophy is very explicit, leaving only about 1mm thin bone to separate an oral cavity from the maxillary sinus. Such a bone is unable to ensure primary stability for a dental implant. Due to advances in bone augmentation techniques sinus floor lifting and distraction osteogenesis virtually there is no limits exists for the placement of implant. AIM AND OBJECTIVE- to assess the height of the residual alveolar bone at partially edentulous area for preimplant assessment by using panoramic radiography and computed tomography. MATERIALS AND METHODS-All selected patients were explained about the need of the study. Individually voluntary informed consent was obtained from all subjects in the study, clinical history and examination and data were recorded in a proforma, patient were made to undergo all the tests with utmost care under aseptic condition with the use of sterile diagnostic instruments, cross infection between the patient and doctor were prevented by the use of gloves and mouth mask, radiation safety measure like lead apron were used for the patients before taking the radiographs, digital panoramic radiographs and computed tomography were taken for all the patients included in the study, measurements were made from the reference line drawn from anatomic landmarks on standardized digital panoramic radiography and computed tomography. RESULTS-The comparison between computed tomography and panoramic measurements of alveolar bone height and mesio distal width from this study, the alveolar ridge height statistically showed no significant difference in panoramic and computed tomography measurements. The statistical analysis of the mesio distal distance shows highly significant difference in panoramic and computed tomography measurements. CONCLUSION- study did not reveal any significant difference between CT and panoramic radiography in assessing the alveolar ridge height. Computed tomography (CT) gives more accurate information about residual bone height (RBH), mesio distal width, bucco-palatal width and the density of the bone at the proposed implant site. CBCT cannot visualize the soft tissues and provide the bone density measurements as accurately as CT.