Abstract:Objective To analyze the positional relations between maxillary sinus and posterior maxillary teeth in three nationalities of Han, Tibetan and Hui in high altitude area by CBCT, so as to provide statistical basis for tooth extraction, oral surgery, planting and bone grafting. Methods CBCT scanning data of 330 maxillary sinuses were randomly collected from Han, Tibetan, Hui three ethnic groups with 110 cases in each group (55 males and 55 females, about 110 sides). The data of measured distance from the bottoms of bilateral maxillary sinuses to the root tips of the posterior maxillary teeth and to the alveolar ridges were analyzed and compared. Results The average distance from the maxillary sinus floor to the second maxillary premolar in the female and the male was (4.46 ± 1.82) and (5.52 ± 1.47) mm in the Han group, (6.19 ± 1.71) and (6.65 ± 1.72) mm in the Tibetan group, and (4.07 ± 1.74) and (5.45 ± 2.04) mm in the Hui group respectively. The average distance from the maxillary sinus floor to the root tip of the first maxillary molar in the female and the male was (2.74 ± 1.59) and (4.09 ± 1.74) mm in the Han group, (4.25 ± 1.68) and (5.05 ± 1.62) mm in the Tibetan group, and (2.72 ± 1.67) and (4.23 ± 1.71) mm in the Hui group respectively. The average distance from the maxillary sinus floor to the root tip of the second maxillary molar in the female and the male was (2.55 ± 1.58) and (3.66 ± 1.79) mm in the Han group, (4.14 ± 1.71) and (5.29 ± 1.67) mm in the Tibetan group, and (2.45 ± 1.66) and (3.49 ± 1.76) mm in the Hui group. The average distance from the maxillary sinus floor to the alveolar ridge of the posterior maxillary teeth in the female and the male was (11.83 ± 1.67) and (12.82 ± 1.69) mm in the Han group, (13.14 ± 1.59) and (13.70 ± 1.79) mm in the Tibetan group, and (11.14 ± 1.58) and (13.25 ± 1.62) mm in the Hui group. Conclusions The position relationship between maxillary sinuses and posterior maxillary teeth is different in Han, Tibetan and Hui 3 ethnic groups at high altitude. The average distance from maxillary sinus floors to the roots of the second maxillary premolars, the first molars and the second molars is shorter in the Han and Hui ethnic groups than in the Tibetan ethnic group. The average distance from the maxillary sinus floors to alveolar crests of the posterior maxillary teeth is in the sequence of Tibetan > Hui > Han in male, and Tibetan > Han > Hui in female.