KUMJ | VOL. 24 | NO. 2 | ISSUE 95 | APRIL - JUNE, 2026
Evaluation of the Thickness of Lateral Wall of Maxillary Sinus According to Gender, Age and Ethnicity using Cone Beam Computed Tomography in a Tertiary Care Center of Nepal- an Analytical Cross-sectional Study
Lamichhane S, Kafle D, Pandey B, Adhikari S, Rijal AH, Humagain M
Abstract: Background
There is lack of studies in Nepalese population evaluating the lateral wall thickness
of maxillary sinus. The lateral wall thickness of maxillary sinus is one of the crucial
parameters for implant placement specially in the aged population for posterior
maxilla.
Objective
To measure the lateral wall thickness of maxillary sinus and look for potential
variations as per age, gender, and ethnicity in a tertiary care center of Nepal.
Method
A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 110 patients (57 males and 53
females) over a period of eight months (September 2024 to April 2025) who fulfilled
the inclusion criteria using cone beam computed tomographic images. The sinus wall
thickness was measured at 3 mm, 6 mm and 9 mm from the base of maxillary sinus
in four different teeth i.e., maxillary right first molar, maxillary right second premolar,
maxillary left first molar, and maxillary left second premolar which are generally near
maxillary sinus. The calculated values were analyzed for variation among different
age groups, gender, and ethnic groups as per the Health Management Information
System of Nepal using the Mann Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis test.
Result
The overall mean sinus lateral wall thickness (LWT) was found to be 1.52 ± 0.76 mm
which was found to be greater in molar region (1.72 ± 0.82 mm) when compared with
premolar region (1.32 ± 0.64 mm). The relation between the lateral wall thickness of
maxillary sinus and age, gender and ethnicity were not statistically significant except
for maxillary left premolar which was found to be increased with increasing age and
in females.
Conclusion
Within the limitations of this study, the pattern of lateral wall thickness of maxillary
sinus seems to be favorable for direct sinus lift in Nepalese population provided that
other factors affecting the sinus lift procedure are well evaluated.
Keyword : Dental implant, Edentulism, Lateral wall thickness, Maxillary sinus, Nepal
