A guide to recognizing maxillary sinus pathology and for deciding on further preoperative assessment prior to maxillary sinus augmentation.

Dentists contemplating sinus augmentation frequently take a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan as part of the work-up. Maxillary sinus pathology is common, and such dentists will be faced with pathologic sinus findings. Not all sinus pathology needs to be treated. The purpose of this article is twofold: to describe the most common sinus findings as seen on a CBCT scan and a way to recognize them, as well as to provide an algorithm for decision making on when further evaluation of the sinus is necessary.