Journal of Dental Research, Vol 79, 964-969, Copyright © 2000 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals

ARTICLES

The relationship between the density of the alveolar processes and that of post-cranial bone

K. A. Southard, T. E. Southard, J. A. Schlechte and P. A. Meis
Department of Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, The University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA. karin-southard@uiowa.edu

Skeletal mass declines in all populations with age, and the literature suggests that changes in oral bone may be linked to the status of the post-cranial (systemic) skeleton. However, there is a lack of information defining the relationship between alveolar process bone and the post-cranial skeleton in healthy individuals. The purpose of this study was to determine: (1) if the bone densities of the maxillary and mandibular alveolar processes are related to the bone density of the spine, hip, or radius in healthy women; and (2) if the alveolar process densities decline with age. Forty-one dentate Caucasian women aged 20 to 78 years underwent assessment of post-cranial (systemic) and alveolar process bone. D-speed vertical bitewing and periapical radiographs incorporating aluminum stepwedges, controlled exposure and processing conditions, and a density correction algorithm were used to make alveolar process density assessments with regions of interest (ROIs) apical to crestal bone and intrabony defects. Anteroposterior lumbar (L1 to L4) and lateral lumbar (L2 to L4) spine, total hip (and subregions), and radius bone densities were determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between maxillary alveolar process bone density and the density of the mandibular alveolar process (r = 0.57, p < or = 0.001), anteroposterior lumbar spine (r = 0.53, p < or = 0.001), lateral lumbar spine (r = 0.52, p < or = 0.001), total hip (r = 0.39, p = 0.01), total radius (r = 0.39, p = 0.01), and age (r = -0.38, p = 0.01). A two-tailed t test comparison revealed significantly greater maxillary alveolar process bone density in women younger than 50 years of age than in those 50 and older (p < or = 0.01). We conclude that the density of maxillary alveolar process bone is significantly related to the density of the mandibular alveolar process, lumbar spine, hip, and radius in healthy women and that maxillary alveolar process bone density declines with age.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				O Nackaerts, R Jacobs, H Devlin, S Pavitt, E Bleyen, B Yan, H Borghs, C Lindh, K Karayianni, P van der Stelt, et al. Osteoporosis detection using intraoral densitometry Dentomaxillofac. Radiol., July 1, 2008; 37(5): 282 - 287. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C Celenk and P Celenk Relationship of mandibular and cervical vertebral bone density using computed tomography Dentomaxillofac. Radiol., January 1, 2008; 37(1): 47 - 51. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O Nackaerts, R Jacobs, M Pillen, L Engelen, F Gijbels, H Devlin, C Lindh, K Nicopoulou-Karayianni, P van der Stelt, S Pavitt, et al. Accuracy and precision of a densitometric tool for jaw bone. Dentomaxillofac. Radiol., July 1, 2006; 35(4): 244 - 248. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F Yasar and F Akgunlu The differences in panoramic mandibular indices and fractal dimension between patients with and without spinal osteoporosis Dentomaxillofac. Radiol., January 1, 2006; 35(1): 1 - 9. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Al-Rasheed, H. Scheerens, D.M. Rennick, H.M. Fletcher, and D.N. Tatakis Accelerated Alveolar Bone Loss in Mice Lacking Interleukin-10 J. Dent. Res., August 1, 2003; 82(8): 632 - 635. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J Yang, S. Pham, and D. Crabbe Effects of oestrogen deficiency on rat mandibular and tibial microarchitecture Dentomaxillofac. Radiol., July 1, 2003; 32(4): 247 - 251. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]