UTCAT2538, Found CAT view, CRITICALLY APPRAISED TOPICs

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Title

The Use of CT Has Been Shown to be Superior in Determining the Relationship of The Maxillary Third Molar to The Maxillary Sinus

Clinical Question

In patients of the general population, is CT superior to panoramic radiography in determining the relation of the maxillary third molars to the maxillary sinus?

Clinical Bottom Line

CT allows for more precise accuracy in measuring the relation of the maxillary third molars to the maxillary sinus and therefore allows the operator to evaluate risk of sinus perforation during third molar removal more accurately.

Best Evidence

(you may view more info by clicking on the PubMed ID link)

PubMed ID	Author / Year	Patient Group	Study type (level of evidence)
#1) 15356474	Bouquet/2004	General population aged 15-59	Clinical study
Key results	As per Bouquet et al. "The CT scan was more precise than the panoramic radiograph...by 0.74mm for bone height separating the third molar roots from the sinus and by 2.26mm for the length of roots in the sinus.". Results showed that the difference in bone height separating the roots from the sinus between the panoramic radiograph and CT scan were the 0.74 +/- 0.11 mm (P < .001)which is significant.

Evidence Search

"Maxillary third molar extractions and maxillary sinus and CT" in PubMed clinical queries with filter for Diagnosis and broad

Comments on
The Evidence

The study is a retrospective clinical study and provides a lower level of evidence. Studies that yield higher levels of evidence should be further conducted.

Applicability

Third molar extractions are a common dental procedure performed by oral surgeons and general dentists. This paper talks about CT as a tool that will enable the operator to have more information to be able to assess risk of surgery, such as maxillary sinus perforation. Panoramic radiograph is the gold standard and despite the findings that CT is superior to the panoramic higher levels of research should be conducted before CT can be instituted as the new gold standard.

Specialty/Discipline

(Oral Medicine/Pathology/Radiology) (General Dentistry) (Oral Surgery)

Keywords

third molar relation to maxillary sinus and CT

ID#

2538

Date of submission:

08/06/2013

E-mail

shayan@livemail.uthscsa.edu

Author

Sara Shayan

Co-author(s)

James Ball, DDS

Co-author(s) e-mail

balldds@gmail.com

Faculty mentor/Co-author

Faculty mentor/Co-author e-mail

Basic Science Rationale (Mechanisms that may account for and/or explain the clinical question, i.e. is the answer to the clinical question consistent with basic biological, physical and/or behavioral science principles, laws and research?)	post a rationale
None available

Comments and Evidence-Based Updates on the CAT (FOR PRACTICING DENTISTS', FACULTY, RESIDENTS and/or STUDENTS COMMENTS ON PUBLISHED CATs)	post a comment
None available

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