Vascular Structures of the Lateral Wall of the Maxillary Sinus: A Vascular Labeling Technique.

PURPOSE: Sinus floor augmentation is a common procedure in implant dentistry. However, several intraoperative complications can occur during this procedure, such as bleeding from the lateral wall of the maxillary sinus. The aim of this study was to describe the vascular structures of the lateral wall of the maxillary sinus using a vascular labeling technique.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten cadaveric specimens were prepared by the vascular labeling technique. Liquid latex was injected into the large vessels of the head, and the lateral wall of the maxillary sinus was exposed by dissection. The diameter of the vessels and their distance from the alveolar ridge (AR) were recorded.

RESULTS: Blood vessels could be observed in all the dissected specimens (100%). The mean distance from the lower edge of the blood vessels to the AR was 18.5 mm (SD 3.31 mm).

CONCLUSIONS: The vascular labeling technique detects maxillary sinus vessels in a predictable and effective way. These structures are clinically relevant because they are located in the area where the lateral window is usually created in sinus augmentation procedures and can cause profuse bleeding.