Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Document Type

Thesis - NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.) in Dentistry

Copyright Statement

All rights reserved. This publication is intended for use solely by faculty, students, and staff of Nova Southeastern University. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, now known or later developed, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author or the publisher.

Department

College of Dental Medicine

First Advisor

Cristina Godoy

Date of original Performance / Presentation

January 2026

Publication Date / Copyright Date

1-1-2026

Abstract

Introduction: As the field of Orthodontics continues to see a rise in the number of adult patients undergoing treatment, it is increasingly important to understand the possible orthopedic impacts treatment may have on non-growing, orthodontic patients. One area with limited existing research is the effect of orthodontic treatment on the maxillary sinuses. Objective: Using Cone Beam Computerized Topography (CBCT), this retrospective study aimed to evaluate volumetric changes in the maxillary sinuses of non-growing, adult orthodontic patients pre- and post-orthodontic treatment, and determine whether age, treatment modality, or skeletal classification influenced volumetric change. Methods: CBCT images of 30 healthy, female patients aged 21 years or older were obtained from a private orthodontic practice at two-time intervals: before starting orthodontic treatment (T1) and after completion of treatment (T2). Sinuses were measured independently (left and right) for both time-intervals utilizing linear measurement calculations and 3-D volumetric measuring software (ITK-SNAP 4.2.0). Comparisons of sinus volumes between T1 and T2 were carried out via paired t-tests for left (L) and right (R) sides using total volume linear (TVL) and total 3-D volume (T3DV) values. Additional variables such as patient age, treatment modality, and type of malocclusion were also analyzed. Measurements were conducted by two independent investigators and results were compared for intra and inter-rater reliability. Results: Paired-samples t tests demonstrated no significant differences between T1 and T2 for TVLR, T3DVR, or TVLL (p > .05). In contrast, T3DVL showed a statistically significant increase from T1 to T2 (mean difference, 0.22; paired t(30) = −2.71; p = .011). Independent-samples t tests showed no statistically significant difference between clear aligners and fixed appliances, or between Class I and Class II patients for all measurements (all p > .05). There were no Class III patients included in the study. One-way ANOVA demonstrated no statistically significant differences between age groups (p > .05). Levene tests indicated homogeneity of variances for all variables (p > .05); therefore, equal variances were assumed. Almost perfect intra and inter-reliability were demonstrated. Conclusions: Orthodontic tooth movement was not associated with statistically significant changes in maxillary sinus volume, aside from a significant increase in left maxillary sinus volume. Additional studies with larger sample sizes as well as more gender and malocclusion variations are needed, however, these results suggest that orthodontic tooth movement has a relatively limited impact on the maxillary sinuses in adult patients.

Disciplines

Dentistry

Keywords

maxillary sinuses; orthodontics; tooth movement; volume

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