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