Prevalence of Alveolar Domes by using Digital Panoramic Radiography

Abstract

Alveolar domes defined as anatomical projection of the root into floor of the maxillary sinus. Maxillary sinusitis is a disease that has a significant impact on a patient's health which may including facial pain, pain in maxilla region, toothaches, fatigue and nausea. Thus, knowing and identifying the relationship between dental roots and maxillary sinus is of utmost importance in determining proper diagnosis, planning and treatment. Material and methods: 300 digital panoramic radiographs obtained from the data base of Dept of Oral Radiology, within age group of 20-50 years. To assess the prevalence of alveolar domes in the maxillary right and left side of the posterior teeth, compare the prevalence of alveolar domes between gender and age group and to verify the difference of alveolar dome shaped phenomena between the roots. Further, chi-square test was used for statistical analysis to assess the correlation of the prevalence of alveolar domes at various teeth, gender and age group. Results: The prevalence of alveolar domes present in the right side of first pre-molars was statistically lower as compared to the other maxillary posterior teeth. No statistically significant difference was observed in the prevalence of alveolar domes between gender. Considering the alveolar domes at molar region according to roots, left side prevalence of alveolar domes in mesiobuccal root for first molar is higher compared to right side of mesiobuccal root of first molar, which is statistically highly significant. Conclusion: Prevalence of alveolar domes showed that left side of the first (64.3%) and second molars (64%) presented a greater prevalence of alveolar domes especially in the mesiobuccal roots (62%) followed by distobuccal and palatal roots. The first pre-molars presented a lower prevalence of alveolar domes.