{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,3]],"date-time":"2026-06-03T02:05:06Z","timestamp":1780452306683,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,2]],"date-time":"2026-06-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1780358400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Dentistry Journal"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Objectives: To assess the prevalence of maxillary sinus pathology in patients requiring sinus floor elevation to aid dental implant treatment. The study aimed to identify the degree, morphology, and location of mucosal thickening and its relation to ostium patency, as well as any odontogenic pathology contributing to mucosal thickening. Methods: This study was conducted at the ICE Postgraduate Dental Institute and Hospital, England, UK, between February and April 2025. cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of 20 patients who were partially dentate and edentulous who attended ICE for sinus floor elevation (SFE) between August 2023 and March 2025 were retrospectively examined. Mucosal thickening &gt;2 mm was considered pathological. The CBCT scans of 26 maxillary sinuses were analysed for the following mucosal thickening characteristics: degree, morphology, and location of mucosal thickening, ostium patency, presence of odontogenic pathology, and need for onward referral to otorhinolaryngology. Data was also collected in relation to patient demographics and CBCT parameters. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the data. Results: Of the 26 sinuses examined in the study, 69% presented with mucosal thickening greater than 2 mm. The incidence of mucosal thickening was higher in male patients. Polypoid mucosal thickening was the most common morphology observed in 46%, and circumferential thickening was the most common location observed in 50%. Ostium obstruction was seen in 12.5% of sinuses that had polypoid, circumferential thickening &gt;10 mm. Other incidental findings included apical pathology, periodontal disease, dental implants breaching the sinus floor, and an antrolith. Conclusions: The study found a high incidence of mucosal thickening in patients undergoing sinus floor elevation. The degree and morphology of mucosal thickening, along with ostium patency and the presence of odontogenic pathology, are important factors to consider in preoperative assessment. Large field of view CBCT scans are required to allow visualisation of the osteomeatal complex. Collaboration between dental implantologists and otorhinolaryngologists is crucial for managing patients with sinus pathology and ensuring successful outcomes in SFE. Further larger prospective studies with clinical correlation are needed to better evaluate the association between sinus pathology, ostium patency, and sinus floor elevation outcomes.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/dj14060340","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,3]],"date-time":"2026-06-03T00:50:28Z","timestamp":1780447828000},"page":"340","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Descriptive CBCT Findings of Maxillary Sinus Mucosal Changes in Patients Undergoing Sinus Floor Elevation: A Retrospective Observational Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Nicole","family":"Mckeever","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"ICE Postgraduate Dental Institute and Hospital, 24 Furness Quay, Salford M50 3XZ, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7421-5248","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rabia","family":"Khan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ICE Postgraduate Dental Institute and Hospital, 24 Furness Quay, Salford M50 3XZ, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Cemal","family":"Ucer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ICE Postgraduate Dental Institute and Hospital, 24 Furness Quay, Salford M50 3XZ, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Simon","family":"Wright","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ICE Postgraduate Dental Institute and Hospital, 24 Furness Quay, Salford M50 3XZ, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5833-6189","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Adam","family":"Spacey","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Health and Society, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0501.2007.01439.x","article-title":"Comparison of survival and complication rates of tooth-supported fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) and implant- supported FDPs and single crowns (SCs)","volume":"18","author":"Pjetursson","year":"2007","journal-title":"Clin. Oral Implant. Res."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1138","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0501.2010.02087.x","article-title":"Alveolar ridge dimensions in maxillary posterior sextants: A retrospective comparative study of dentate and edentulous sites using computerized tomography data","volume":"22","author":"Farina","year":"2011","journal-title":"Clin. Oral Implant. Res."},{"key":"ref_3","first-page":"613","article-title":"Grafting of the maxillary sinus floor with autogenous marrow and bone","volume":"38","author":"Boyne","year":"1980","journal-title":"J. Oral Surg."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1301","DOI":"10.11607\/jomi.3644","article-title":"Incidence of anatomical variations and disease of the maxillary sinuses as identified by cone beam computed tomography: A systematic review","volume":"29","author":"Vogiatzi","year":"2014","journal-title":"Int. J. Oral Maxillofac. Implant."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"936","DOI":"10.1016\/S0278-2391(97)90063-X","article-title":"Maxillary sinus function after sinus lift for the insertion of dental implants","volume":"55","author":"Timmenga","year":"1997","journal-title":"Int. J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"34","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tripleo.2007.09.021","article-title":"Complications of maxillary sinus augmentations in a selective series of patients","volume":"106","author":"Anavi","year":"2008","journal-title":"Oral Surg. Oral Med. Oral Pathol. Oral Radiol. Endod."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.1016\/j.joms.2013.07.020","article-title":"Correlation between Schneiderian membrane perforation and sinus lift graft outcome: A retrospective evaluation of 359 augmented sinus","volume":"72","author":"Nolan","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"161","DOI":"10.1563\/aaid-joi-D-17-00209","article-title":"Incidence of maxillary sinus disease before sinus floor elevation surgery as identified by cone-beam computed tomography: A literature review","volume":"44","author":"Costa","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Oral Implantol."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Albu, S., and Roman, A. (2025). Navigating the Treatment Landscape of Odontogenic Sinusitis: Current Trends and Future Directions. Medicina, 61.","DOI":"10.3390\/medicina61122175"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1235","DOI":"10.1002\/alr.22777","article-title":"Diagnosing odontogenic sinusitis: An international multidisciplinary consensus statement","volume":"11","author":"Yokoi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. Forum Allergy Rhinol."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1243","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0501.2012.02441.x","article-title":"Guidelines for the use of diagnostic imaging in implant dentistry 2011. A consensus workshop organized by the European association for osseointegration at the medical university of Warsaw","volume":"23","author":"Harris","year":"2012","journal-title":"Clin. Oral Implant. Res."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"198","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1708-8208.2011.00342.x","article-title":"Panoramic Images versus Three-Dimensional Planning Software for Oral Implant Planning in Atrophied Posterior Maxillary: A Clinical Radiological Study","volume":"15","author":"Fortin","year":"2013","journal-title":"Clin. Implant Dent. Relat. Res."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"274","DOI":"10.1111\/clr.13698","article-title":"The impact of anatomic, patient and surgical factors on membrane perforation during lateral wall sinus floor elevation","volume":"32","author":"Pizzini","year":"2021","journal-title":"Clin. Oral Implant. Res."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"75","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0501.2011.02378.x","article-title":"Anatomical structures in the maxillary sinus related to lateral sinus elevation: A cone beam computed tomographic analysis","volume":"24","author":"Kang","year":"2013","journal-title":"Clin. Oral Implant. Res."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"K\u00fc\u00e7\u00fckkurt, S. (2025). Maxillary sinus pathologies in dental implant candidates: CBCT-based prevalence and odontogenic risk factors. BMC Oral Health, 25.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12903-025-06079-y"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"78","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0501.2010.01986.x","article-title":"Antral computerized tomography pre-operative evaluation: Relationship between mucosal thickening and maxillary sinus function","volume":"22","author":"Carmeli","year":"2011","journal-title":"Clin. Oral Implant. Res."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"755","DOI":"10.1111\/clr.12168","article-title":"Cone-beam computed tomographic analysis of sinus membrane thickness, ostium patency, and residual ridge heights in the posterior maxilla: Implications for sinus floor elevation","volume":"25","author":"Shanbhag","year":"2014","journal-title":"Clin. Oral Implant. Res."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"463","DOI":"10.1111\/clr.13582","article-title":"Sinus floor elevation or referral for further diagnosis and therapy: A comparison of maxillary sinus assessment by ENT specialists and dentists using cone beam computed tomography","volume":"31","author":"Janner","year":"2020","journal-title":"Clin. Oral Implant. Res."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"27","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rcl.2008.10.006","article-title":"Strategies for reducing radiation dose in CT","volume":"47","author":"McCollough","year":"2009","journal-title":"Radiol. Clin. N. Am."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"519","DOI":"10.1007\/s00405-008-0786-6","article-title":"Appropriate interslice gap for screening coronal paranasal sinus tomography for mucosal thickening","volume":"266","author":"Cagici","year":"2009","journal-title":"Eur. Arch. Otorhinolaryngol."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zaman, G., Khan, R.S., Spacey, A., Ucer, C., and Wright, S. (2026). The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Planning Dental Implant Procedures: A Systematic Review. Dent. J., 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/dj14050248"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"59","DOI":"10.5624\/isd.2019.49.1.59","article-title":"Maxillary antroliths detected by cone-beam computed tomography in an adult dental population","volume":"49","author":"Cho","year":"2019","journal-title":"Imaging Sci. Dent."},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"Koenig, L.J., Tamimi, D., and Perschbacher, S.E. (2017). Diagnostic imaging: Oral and maxillofacial, Elsevier. [2nd ed.]. Part III, Section 5, Maxillary sinus and nasal cavity."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"110","DOI":"10.1002\/lio2.147","article-title":"Odontogenic Sinusitis: A Review of the Current Literature","volume":"3","author":"Little","year":"2018","journal-title":"Laryngoscope Investig. Otolaryngol."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ahmed, J., Gupta, A., Shenoy, N., Sujir, N., and Muralidharan, A. (2023). Prevalence of Incidental Maxillary Sinus Anomalies on CBCT Scans: A Radiographic Study. Diagnostics, 13.","DOI":"10.20944\/preprints202308.1342.v1"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"557","DOI":"10.1016\/j.joen.2008.02.022","article-title":"Comparison of Periapical Radiography and Limited Cone-Beam Tomography in Posterior Maxillary Teeth Referred for Apical Surgery","volume":"34","author":"Low","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Endod."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8484","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tripleo.2006.09.017","article-title":"Periapical surgery and the maxillary sinus: Radiographic parameters for clinical outcome","volume":"103","author":"Oberli","year":"2007","journal-title":"Oral Surg. Oral Med. Oral Pathol. Oral Radiol. Endod."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.5051\/jpis.2011.41.1.23","article-title":"Healing pattern of the mucous membrane after tooth extraction in the maxillary sinus","volume":"41","author":"Yoo","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Periodontal Implant Sci."},{"key":"ref_29","first-page":"28","article-title":"Prevalence of pathologic findings in the floor of the maxillary sinuses on cone beam computed tomography images","volume":"65","year":"2017","journal-title":"Gen. Dent."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1069","DOI":"10.1016\/j.joen.2012.04.027","article-title":"Associations between Maxillary Sinus Mucosal Thickening and Apical Periodontitis Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Scanning: A Retrospective Study","volume":"38","author":"Lu","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Endod."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"753","DOI":"10.1016\/j.joen.2011.02.032","article-title":"Cone-Bem Computed Tomography Evaluation of Maxillary Sinusitis","volume":"37","author":"Maillet","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Endod."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"557","DOI":"10.1902\/jop.2011.110376","article-title":"Cone-beam computed tomographic evidence of the association between periodontal bone loss and mucosal thickening of the maxillary sinus","volume":"83","author":"Phothikhun","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Periodontol."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.1186\/s40729-019-0157-7","article-title":"Influence of exposing dental implants into the sinus cavity on survival and complications rate: A systematic review","volume":"5","author":"Ragucci","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int. J. Implant Dent."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4315","DOI":"10.1007\/s00405-016-4129-8","article-title":"The effect of the presence of the accessory maxillary ostium on the maxillary sinus","volume":"273","author":"Yenigun","year":"2016","journal-title":"Eur. Arch. Otorhinolaryngol."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"229","DOI":"10.1097\/00005537-200002010-00008","article-title":"Documentation of variations in sinonasal anatomy by intraoperative nasal endoscopy","volume":"110","author":"Joe","year":"2000","journal-title":"Laryngoscope"},{"key":"ref_36","first-page":"e276","article-title":"Are mucous retention cysts and pseudocysts in the maxillary sinus a risk factor for dental implants? A systematic review","volume":"26","author":"Anuita","year":"2020","journal-title":"Med. Oral Patol. Oral Cirug\u00eda Bucal"}],"container-title":["Dentistry Journal"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2304-6767\/14\/6\/340\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,3]],"date-time":"2026-06-03T01:51:49Z","timestamp":1780451509000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2304-6767\/14\/6\/340"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,2]]},"references-count":36,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6]]}},"alternative-id":["dj14060340"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/dj14060340","relation":{},"ISSN":["2304-6767"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2304-6767","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,2]]}}}