Anatomy of the Maxillary Posterior Region with Implications for Implant Therapy

Immediate implant therapy is increasingly common in most parts of the mouth but seems to be quite rare in the molar region, particularly in the maxilla. With the advent of CBCT scans, it is possible to evaluate this region much more precisely and accurately than with previously existing two- dimensional technologies. We wanted to evaluate maxillary molar teeth that required replacement with implants. We wanted to understand why these regions shrink so dramatically when teeth are removed and we wanted to see if this shrinkage could be prevented by placing implants with simultaneous augmentation. We needed to assess the proximity of the sinus and to see if the implant procedure would require sinus augmentation as part of the therapy. Keywords: maxilla, implants, sinus, CBCT, extractions, dental anatomy, bone height