Vertical relationships between the divergence angle of maxillary molar roots and the maxillary sinus floor: A cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) study

AIM: To assess the relations between the divergence angle of the maxillary molar roots and their proximity to the maxillary sinus floor using CBCT. METHOD: This study comprised CBCT scans of the maxilla, including at least the inferior one-third of the maxillary sinus and at least one molar present in any quadrant with complete eruption and root formation. Evaluation included the vertical relations between the maxillary molar root apices and the maxillary sinus floor (MSF), and the root divergence was measured from the root apices to the floor of the pulp chamber. The chi-square test was used for the associations between the study parameters. For the correlation between root divergence angles and MSF vertical relationship types, the Spearman test was used. A P-value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: A total of 100 scans were analyzed, including 316 permanent maxillary first and second molars. The MSF Type II vertical relationship was the most prevalent (39.6%), followed by Type I (31.3%). The highest divergence angle was found between the distobuccal and palatal roots (mean = 44.9 ± 10.5°). For the mesiobuccal-distobuccal angle groups, there were higher percentages of the MSF Type I and II relationships among the angle groups < 1° and 21-45°. For the mesiobuccal-palatal angle groups, a higher prevalence of the MSF Type II relationship was found in the <21⁰ and >45⁰ angle groups, and a higher prevalence of the Type I relationship was found in the 21-45⁰ angle group. For the distobuccal-palatal angle groups, higher percentages of the MSF Type II relationship were found in the three angle groups. For all teeth, there was a significant positive correlation between the MSF vertical relationship and the mesiobuccal-palatal angle (r = 0.116; P = 0.039). CONCLUSION: There was a positive correlation between the divergence angle of the roots and their vertical relationship with the MSF. Clinicians should assess the divergence between the roots before performing extraction or endodontic treatments.