Since the bone dehiscence of the anterior wall of the maxillary sinus is closely related to aging, osteoblasts and osteoclasts were studied morphometrieally and statistically.
Ninety three bone fragments of the anterior wall of the maxillary sinus were taken at surgery and served as specimens for this study. These operated patient were from 11 years old to 71 years old, 51 males and 42 females.
The results were as follows:
1) The number of osteoblasts in the bone tissue was decreased with age significantly. Correlation co-efficiencies were calculated for male subject and female subject. There was no difference between these two.
2) The number of osteoclasts increased with age significantly. This increment was more significant in female than male.
3) Unique appearance of the osteoblasts and osteoclasts in the anterior wall of the maxillary sinus was observed around the dehiscences. The osteoblasts appeared distal from the center of the maxillary sinus or circumferentially, on the other hand, the osteoclasts appeared proximally.
From these results, it was concluded that the increase in the dehiscences of the anterior bony wall of the maxillary sinus with age was caused by the increase in number of the osteoclasts with age, and osteoclastic change was seemed to be more readily occured in female.
These observed specific arrangements of the osteoblasts and osteoclasts cause bony deposition to the outer side of the anterior wall and bony resorpition to the inner side.
This process might contribute to the formation of the concavity of the Fossa Canina.
