Background: Odontogenic maxillary sinusitis (OMS) and rhinogenic sinusitis (RS) are the main types of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and have a significant impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL), but the difference in HRQL and symptom presentation between them has not been specifically evaluated to date. Obejctive: Our aim was to compare patterns of symptoms and HRQL disease-specific domains in patients affected with these 2 types of CRS. Methods: A group of 201 patients with CRS (99 with rhinogenic and 102 with odontogenic origin) completed the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 (SNOT-22) questionnaire before treatment. Data sets were analyzed by using principal component analysis (PCA) to identify a set of symptom components together with the items excluded from PCA, which were then analyzed for differences between patients with OMS and RS. Results: PCA of SNOT-22 items identified 5 components: “rhinologic,” “extranasal rhinologic,” “ear/facial,” “sleep and functional disturbance,” and “emotional disturbance.” Sneezing was excluded from PCA and treated as separate outcome variable and was significantly worse in RS patients. Patients with OMS scored significantly higher scores with regard to emotional disturbance, while RS patients scored significantly worse in sleep and functional disturbance. The extra symptom “malodor” was the most different symptom and was significantly worse in OMS patients. The total SNOT-22 score was not significantly different between the groups. Conclusion: With controlling of covariates that may influence the severity of the disease, this study showed some significant differences in symptom patterns and HRQL impairment between patients with OMS and RS. Malodor is the most characteristic feature of OMS. Therefore, OMS should always be suspected in patients complaining of bad breath.

The treatment of chronic odontogenic and nonodontogenic rhinosinusitis is different. It requires the elimination of odontogenic cause and optimal sinus surgical treatment. To date, there are no clear indications when sinus surgical treatment is necessary. Our aim was to define clear indication(s) for sinus surgical treatment in patients with chronic odontogenic rhinosinusitis after elimination of odontogenic cause. A group of 96 patients with chronic odontogenic rhinosinusitis caused by apical periodontitis completed a Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 (SNOT-22) questionnaire with incorporated additional symptom “malodor” before treatment. Moreover, they were distributed according to computed tomography (CT) radiological criteria such as degree of periapical pathology, anatomical ratio between maxillary lateral teeth and sinus floor, sinus mucosal thickening, and ostiomeatal complex condition. The elimination of odontogenic cause was performed by extracting causative tooth. Questionnaire was filled again 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after treatment. All data were analyzed to search the clear indications for sinus surgical treatment. Of 96 patients, 74 (77.1%) patients had full resolution of symptoms after dental cause was eliminated. For other 22 (22.9%) patients, symptoms persisted and sinus surgical treatment was indicated. In recovered group, mean SNOT-22 score was different between all periods of measuring, while within nonrecovered group, small differences were seen only when compared to before treatment. No statistically significant correlation between radiological criteria and rhinosinusitis healing after tooth extraction was found (P > .05). Statistically significant correlation was found between the disappearance of malodor/SNOT-22 score reduction after elimination of dental cause and healing success (P < .005). Our study revealed that extraction of causative tooth is an effective treatment of chronic odontogenic rhinosinusitis caused by apical periodontitis. CT criteria are not valuable indicator for sinus surgery, but persistence of malodor after 2 weeks is the strongest indication for this type of treatment.

The objective of this study was to assess the porosity distribution of BioRoot RCS/single gutta-percha point root-canal fillings performed by a general dental practitioner and endodontist. Fourteen plastic models of maxillary premolars with two roots were selected and shaped with HyFlex EDM instruments to a size 40/0.04 taper and randomly divided into two experimental groups. A total of 14 canals in each group were obturated by two different operators with one HyFlex EDM size 40 gutta-percha point and BioRoot RCS sealer. The specimens were scanned with a high-resolution micro-computed tomography scanner, and the porosity of the fillings at the coronal, middle, and apical thirds of the root canals was qualified and quantified. The differences between groups and root-canal thirds were compared using Mann–Whitney, Friedman, and Wilcoxon tests with the significance level set at p < 0.05. The highest number of pores was observed in the apical third of root-canal fillings in both groups; however, the porosity distribution between the two groups was not significantly different in the apical and middle thirds (p > 0.05). Statistically significant differences were determined only in the coronal third (p < 0.05). The predominance of open pores was detected in all root-canal thirds and groups, with no significant differences in the number of open pores between the coronal and middle thirds (p > 0.05).

The present study evaluated the porosity distribution of BioRoot RCS/single gutta-percha point (BR/SC) and MTA flow (MF) fillings, which were used as plugs for the apical perforation repair in curved canals of extracted mandibular molars using micro-computed tomography (μCT). Forty mesial root canals of mandibular first molars were shaped with ProTaper NEXT X1–X5 files 2 mm beyond the apex to simulate apical perforations that were randomly divided into two groups (n = 20) according to the material and technique used for the apical plug: BR/SC or MF. The specimens were scanned before and after canal filling at an isotropic resolution of 9.9 μm. The volumetric analysis of voids in the apical 5 mm of the fillings was performed. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni correction (p < 0.05). Micro-computed tomography (µCT) evaluation revealed significant differences between the groups in terms of porosity: the total volume and percentage volume of voids was lower in the BR/SC group in comparison with the MF group (p < 0.05), with the predominance of open pores in both groups. Neither of the materials and/or application techniques were able to produce void-free root fillings in the apical region of artificially perforated curved roots of mandibular molars.

Background: The detailed relationship between apical periodontitis and maxillary sinus mucosal thickening is still unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between maxillary posterior teeth periapical odontogenic lesions and maxillary sinus mucosal (MSM) thickening by using volumetric 3D CT analysis. Methods: A total of 83 subjects with apical periodontitis around maxillary posterior teeth and maxillary sinus mucosal thickening were selected. 3D models of maxillary sinus mucosa and apical lesions were reconstructed from CT, and their volume, mean diameter were calculated. Results: Mean MSM thickening was 8.81 ± 12.59 mm with an average volume of 5092.58 ± 7435.38 mm³. Men had higher MSM thickening than women. Mean diameter of apical lesion was 5.94 ± 2.68 mm; average volume was 200.5 ± 197.29 mm³. Mean distance between MSM and apical lesion was 1.83 ± 2.07 mm. Mucosal volume was the highest in the S1 and D1 configuration and the lowest in R3. Reducing the distance between apical lesion and MSM by each millimetre, the volume of MSM increases by 759.99 mm³. Conclusions: Volumetric CT analysis is a circumstantial method to evaluate the association between maxillary posterior teeth apical periodontitis and MSM thickening. This relationship is not related to the size of the apical lesion but depends on their anatomical position and the distance from the maxillary sinus mucosa.