Effectiveness of Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Maxillary Sinusitis After Dental Implant Treatment

Abstract

Due to the increasing popularity of dental implant treatment, cases of maxillary sinusitis developing after dental implant treatment have also been increasing. We examined the effectiveness of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in controlling maxillary sinusitis developing after dental implant treatment.

Between January 2015 and June 2021, we examined 11 patients who underwent ESS for maxillary sinusitis that had developed after dental implant treatment. The patients consisted of 4 men and 7 women, with a median age of 53 years (23–75 years); the median observation period after ESS was 18 months (3–36 months). We examined the changes in the symptoms, degree of opacification of the maxillary sinus, and results of culture of the discharge fluid from the maxillary sinus.

Of the 11 patients, 8 responded to pre- and postoperative questionnaires. The scores on the nasal symptoms questionnaire (NSQ) improved after the surgery. Results of culture of the discharge fluid from the maxillary sinus could be obtained for 4 patients, and Staphylococcus sp. was the predominantly detected bacterial species. Presence of several anaerobic bacteria was also detected in the discharge fluid, similar to the case in odontogenic maxillary sinusitis. None of the patients required removal of the dental implants after the ESS.

These data suggest that ESS is effective for the treatment of maxillary sinusitis developing after dental implant treatment. Since maxillary sinusitis may not heal even after the removal of dental implants, ESS should be proactively considered for the control of maxillary sinusitis developing after dental implant treatment.