Evaluation of the Posterior Superior Alveolar Artery Prior to Sinus Floor Elevation via Lateral Window Technique: A Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Study

Aim: To evaluate the prevalence, diameter, localization of the posterior superior alveolar artery (PSAA) and the relationship between PSAA and the floor of the maxillary sinus and the thickness of the maxillary sinus lateral wall using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Material and Methods: In this retrospective study, more than 500 CBCT images were retrieved. Out of them 156 CBCT images were related to the sinus floor elevation, among which 120 CBCT images were enrolled in the study based on the inclusion criteria, and 36 CBCT images were excluded. A total of 120 CBCT images of the PSSA from 60 patients comprising 32 (53.3%) men and 28 (46.7%) women were analyzed. Statistical data were analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 22. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency) were used for the analyses. Results: The ages of the participants ranged between 26 and 76 years and the mean age was 54.48 +/- 10.92 years. The PSAA was detected on the right side in 95% of the CBCT scans and on the left side in 85% of the maxillary sinuses. At the first detection point (FDP) and last detection point (LDP), the mean values of the distance between the inferior border of the PSAA and the floor of the maxillary sinus were 9.54 +/- 4.27 mm and 7.91 +/- 4.75 mm, respectively. The mean diameters of the PSAA at the FDP and LDP were 1.36 +/- 0.46 mm and 1.12 +/- 0.35 mm, respectively. Conclusion: Detection of the characteristics of the PSAA by using CBCT is crucial for handling the sinus floor elevation procedures uneventfully.