Location of the extraosseous and intraosseous arterial anastomosis of the maxillary sinus in edentulous specimens.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this anatomical study was to measure the distance from the intraosseous and extraosseous arterial anastomoses of the maxillary sinus to the alveolar ridge in edentulous specimens dissected from human cadavers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty edentulous maxillary specimens were dissected, anatomically prepared, and injected for a better visualization of the maxillary sinus artery. RESULTS: This study showed that the mean distance from the alveolar ridge to the extraosseous anastomosis was 16 mm for the second maxillary molar, 12 mm for the first maxillary molar, and 13 mm for the second maxillary premolar. For the intraosseous anastomosis to the alveolar ridge, the mean distance was 17 mm for the second maxillary molar, 13 mm for the first maxillary molar, and 14 mm for the second maxillary premolar. CONCLUSIONS: Under the conditions of this study, we found that the mean distance from the alveolar crest to the extraosseous anastomosis and intraosseous anastomosis was shortest for the first maxillary molar and second maxillary premolar and greatest for the second maxillary molar. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These findings provide data whose relevance for clinical dentistry is that they can be applied to minimize the risk of damage to the arterial network of the maxillary sinus during surgical procedures in this region.