The significance of maxillary sinus septum height in relation to posterior maxillary alveolar bone height: a retrospective CBCT analysis

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether variations in antral septum (AS) height are associated with the vertical dimension of the adjacent posterior alveolar bone (AB) as assessed on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. This retrospective study was conducted using CBCT images of 88 patients. CBCT volumes were reoriented using the palatal plane as a horizontal reference. Septa were identified on coronal sections, and linear measurements were performed on individually adjusted sagittal planes under synchronized multiplanar reconstruction. Antral septum (AS) height and septum-referenced alveolar bone (AB) height were measured using standardized landmark definitions. Statistical analysis was performed using linear regression and Pearson correlation analysis. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Of the 88 patients included in the study, 43 were male and 45 were female, with a mean age of 43.35 ± 13.40 years. AS height ranged from 2.45 to 9.96 mm (mean 5.58 ± 1.92 mm), while AB height ranged from 1.09 to 15.40 mm (mean 8.20 ± 3.34 mm). Regression analysis revealed no significant association between AS height and AB height (R2 = 0.001, p = 0.36). Within the limitations of this retrospective CBCT study, variations in AS height were not associated with septum-referenced AB height in the posterior maxilla.