Gingival Biotype and Its Relationship With the Maxillary Membrane and Lateral Wall Thickness

The purpose of this study was to analyze the risk of the maxillary sinus lift technique and the correlation between the thickness of the gingiva, maxillary sinus membrane, and the maxillary sinus lateral wall. Cone-beam computerized tomograhy (CBCT) records of 32 adult dentate patients (10 male/22 female) were analyzed. The gingival thickness records of the dental units were compared with the thickness measurements of the membrane and lateral wall of the maxillary sinus. The gingival biotypes varied between 1.1 mm (thin) and 1.6 mm (thick), with a small association with sex. The thickness of the sinus membrane presented a small association between sexes (0.2 mm, female/0.3 mm, male) and gingival biotypes (Cohen d = .52). The lateral wall presented a weak association between the biotypes (1.3 mm, thin/1.1 mm, thick). There was also no correlation between the membrane and lateral wall (r = -.22). The volume dimension related to the graft area of the sinus was 4 mm(3) for men and 5 mm(3) for women. There was a weak correlation of gingival thickness compared with membrane thickness and lateral wall of the sinus (r = .304/r = -.31). Gingival thickness does not appear to be a reliable thickness predictor of the membrane or lateral wall of the maxillary sinus. The analysis of maxillary sinus anatomical structures through CBCT is the most reliable technique to identify the thickness of the membrane and lateral wall of the maxillary sinus before surgery. We believe that new studies are necessary to confirm our findings.