Abstract
Purpose
This study is aimed at understanding the effects of maxillary first molar extraction
on the expansion of maxillary sinus in children.
Subjects and methods
119 patients (aged 11-17 years) who had only one extracted maxillary first molar
were included in the study. The superoinferior differences of the sinus floor position
were measured in both dentate and edentulous sites on panoramic radiographs.
The expansion of the maxillary sinus after maxillary first molar extraction was
investigated in relation to fixed anatomic structures. The interorbital line (IL) and
two zygomatic process lines (IZ) were used as a reference. The vertical distances
between the IL and the inferior border of the maxillary sinus (IS) in edentulous (ISX)
and in dentate sites (IST) were measured. The data was analyzed statistically.
Results
The amount of maxillary sinus expansion in ISX was statistically significant in
comparison to IST (p<0.001). The most prominent sinus expansions were found
in subjects with extractions over six months prior to analysis (p<0.001). A negative
correlation was detected between the amount of maxillary sinus expansion and
IST (r = -0.438, p<0.001). There was a positive correlation between the amount of
maxillary sinus expansion and IZT (r = 23.8, p< 0.009).
Conclusion
This study showed that the extraction of one maxillary first molar resulted in a
negligible amount of sinus expansion in children. The results could be attributed to
there being only one tooth extraction and a transferring of functional forces to the
area of the neighboring teeth.