Introduction
The term “maxillary sinusitis” (lat. Sinusitis maxillaris) is used in dental terminology to describe the spread of inflammatory processes in the paranasal sinuses of the upper jaw. Sinusitis can be acute or chronic.
In addition, a distinction is made between inflammation of the maxillary sinus on one side and the form of this inflammatory disease that affects both sides of the upper jaw. In most cases, the affected patients feel pain and/or a strong feeling of pressure in the upper cheek areas. Usually, this type of sinusitis, whether unilateral or bilateral, results directly from a prolonged respiratory infection with coughing and rhinitis.
Inflammations in the area of the paranasal sinuses are one of the most frequent secondary diseases that can occur in the course of a cold. However, the development of sinusitis can also have other causes. Typical symptoms of sinusitis in general and sinusitis in particular are headaches, pressure in the cheek area, fever, fatigue and toothache.
Causes
Sinusitis of one side of the maxillary sinus can occur as a result of a long-lasting respiratory tract infection with coughing and rhinitis. In the course of the persistent irritation of the nasal mucous membranes, localized swelling of the mucous membranes and constriction of the nasal secretions’ outflow passages occur in many cases. In this way, bacteria and other pathogens can simply migrate from the nose into the paranasal sinuses (for example into the maxillary sinus) and provoke inflammatory reactions.
Patients suffering from a unilateral sinusitis may also have a general flow disorder of the nasal secretion due to non-inflammatory narrowing of the flow paths. In addition to the typical cold, inflammatory processes in the maxillary sinus region can also have completely different causes. In this context, it should be noted that the roots of the rear molars of the upper jaw extend far into the maxillary sinus in many people.
For this reason, carious defects or root tip end inflammations of these teeth can serve as an entry portal into the maxillary sinus for pathogens that cause disease. In most cases, the result is an inflammation of the maxillary sinus on one side. In addition, dental treatment itself can lead to the development of an inflammation of the maxillary sinus on one side (so-called iatrogenic cause).
Especially in the case of tooth extraction (pulling a tooth) of molars of the upper jaw, an opening of the maxillary sinus can occur due to the long roots of the teeth. If this opening is not discovered by the treating dentist, there is an artificial, direct connection between the oral cavity, which is heavily populated with bacteria, and the maxillary sinus. As a result, pathogens, especially bacteria, can migrate into the maxillary sinus, multiply unhindered and cause long-term damage to the tissue. A unilateral sinusitis is often the result. In case of severe infestation and/or the omission of a suitable therapy, the inflammatory processes can also spread to the rest of the sinuses.
