Dimensional changes of the maxillary sinus following tooth extraction in the posterior maxilla with and without socket preservation

Background: Sinus pneumatization is commonly observed following tooth extraction in the posterior maxilla, however, the role of this pneumatization in the overall changes in the vertical bone height is not clear. Purpose: To compare dimensional changes in the alveolar ridge and corresponding maxillary sinus following tooth extraction, with or without socket preservation. Materials and Methods: 42 patients underwent tooth extraction (control group) and 21 patients underwent tooth extraction with socket preservation using DBBM (study group). Panoramic radiographs, prior to and approximately 1 year post extractions were superimposed and matched using a fixed reference unit. The following measurements were performed in the midline of the tooth site: distance of the bone crest to the sinus floor; distance of the sinus floor to the sinus roof and the sagittal circumference of the maxillary. Results: The mean change in the distance from the sinus floor to the sinus roof pre and post operatively was 0.30 mm (0.10 SE) in the study group and 1.30 mm (+/- 0.27 SE) in the control group (P=.0221). The mean change in the distance from the bone crest to the sinus floor was 0.32 mm (+/- 0.09 SE) in the study group and 1.26 mm (+/- 0.28 SE) in the control group (P=.0019), and the mean change in the sinus sagittal circumference was 37.34 mm (+/- 6.10 SE) and 125.95 mm (+/- 15.60 SE), respectively (P=.0001). Conclusions: Ridge preservation using bovine derived xenograft might reduce sinus pneumatization along with minimizing crestal bone resorption.