Purpose : The most common complication during sinus graft surgery is perforation of schneiderian membrane,
especially occur when forming the lateral window using surgical bur. To prevent perforation we can use a high price
device such as the piezoelectric device. But when the lateral wall is thick, the operation takes longer time on the
contrary. The purpose of this study was to investigate the lateral wall thickness of the maxillary sinus to prevent
perforation of Schneiderian membrane and to choose proper device for forming the lateral window.
Materals and Methods : Using dental computed tomography for sinus graft case in LivingWell Dental Hospital we
measured the lateral wall thickness at the level of 3 mm from the sinus floor and 13 mm from the alveolar crest.
Results : The average thickness was 1.6mm ± 0.7 at the level of 2 mm from the sinus floor was and 1.4mm ± 0.7 at
the level of 13mm from the alveolar crest. But the measuring value shows large individual difference and their were no
corelationship between the thickness of lateral wall and the width of maxillary sinus.
Conclusion : From the results of this study we could offer the average thickness of the lateral wall. But it shows large
individual deviation and we could not discover the anatomic indicator related the thickness of lateral wall. Therefore it is
reqired to take computed tomography for evaluation of the maxillary sinus wall.