"Bit Long in the Tooth" relate to Sinus?

When someone says you are a “bit long in the tooth” they are generally referring to your age; this saying dates back to the days of yore and is based on the continual; yes, never-ending growth of certain animals teeth such as beavers, horses and rabbits (to name a few).

But how does “being long in the tooth” relate to sinus issues? It doesn’t in its figurative term but taken literally, the length of ones molars can impact one sinus’s. This is because the roots of large upper, back molar teeth can be so long that they extend past the sinus periosteum and into the maxillary sinus cavities. This can become a problem if tooth decay, tooth breakages, abscesses or extraction of these teeth ever occurs as this can allow for the transfer of bacteria from the mouth into these areas resulting in multiple sinus infections.

Another main concern would be that during extraction of upper back molars, a part of the molars root may split off and find its way into the maxillary sinus cavity. When this happens, the sinus cavity is usually irrigated allowing the fragment to be removed from the sinus cavities. Should this technique not produce the fragment, a further procedure known as the Caldwell-Luc procedure may be attempted? What does this mean? A small incision is made just between the upper lip and gum line allowing for the fragment to be removed.

So be sure to keep your “Pearly Whites” and gums clean, don’t let toothache linger and make regular dental check-ups part of your yearly routine