Anatomical Evaluation of the Alveolar Antral Artery in the Turkish Population: A Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Study

BackgroundInjury to the alveolar antral artery (AAA) is one of the most common complications in oral surgical procedures. This study aimed to determine the diameter and anatomical position of the AAA, establish reference values for the Turkish population, and contribute to the literature.MethodologyThe diameter of the AAA at the level of the first molar tooth, its distance from the sinus floor, its vertical distance to the alveolar crest, its oblique distance to the sinus floor, the width of the maxillary sinus, the thickness of the lateral sinus wall, the residual alveolar protrusion height, the residual alveolar protrusion width at the basal level, and the distance from the sinus lateral wall to the sinus floor were all measured using cone-beam computed tomography. Age, gender, and oral health were used to evaluate the collected data.ResultsThe average age of the participants in the study was 42.63 ± 16.07 years. The average AAA diameter was 1.1 ± 0.25 mm, the average height of the residual alveolar protrusion was 0.44 ± 0.13 cm, the average width of the residual alveolar protrusion at the basal level was 0.79 ± 0.12 cm, and the average width of the residual alveolar ridge at the crest level was 0.55 ± 0.11 cm. No significant differences were observed in these parameters based on gender and dental status (p > 0.05). The average AAA distance to the sinus floor was 1.02 ± 0.26 cm, the average vertical distance to the alveolar crest was 1.21 ± 0.25 cm, the average oblique distance to the sinus floor was 1.38 ± 0.25 cm, the average maxillary sinus width was 1.63 ± 0.28 cm, the average thickness of the lateral sinus wall was 0.12 ± 0.06 cm, and the average distance from the sinus lateral wall to the sinus floor was 1.28 ± 0.22 cm. Significant differences based on gender were observed in all these parameters (p < 0.05). A significant difference was observed in the vertical distance from AAA to the alveolar crest and the oblique distance to the sinus floor based on dental status (p < 0.05), with shorter distances in dentate individuals. Only the AAA diameter showed a weak negative correlation with age (p < 0.05, 0.2 < r < 0.04).ConclusionsThe results obtained were within a reliable range for oral surgery. Detailed reference findings for the proximity and location of structures can be established for the Turkish population during dental surgery. It is recommended that physicians performing surgical interventions in the maxillary region carefully consider these r