[Odontogenic maxillary sinusitis caused by a fractured tooth].

In a study of six cases of odontogenic maxillary sinusitis caused by fractured teeth, we found the following: (1) The pathophysiology of odontogenic maxillary sinusitis differs in cases in which the pulp cavity is not exposed from those in which it is exposed. (2) When the pulp cavity is not exposed, dental pulp at the apical foramen is injured, causing apical periodontitis that, in turn, causes odontogenic maxillary sinusitis via apical lesions. (3) When the pulp cavity is exposed, pulpitis followed by apical periodontitis and apical lesions causes odontogenic maxillary sinusitis. (4) Physician should thus be made aware of the possibility that fractured teeth may cause odontogenic maxillary sinusitis.