Correlations between periodontitis and loss of mandibular bone in relation to systemic bone changes in postmenopausal Japanese women

A new method of measuring mandibular alveolar bone mineral density (BMD) was applied to 40 postmenopausal Japanese women aged 50-69 years exhibiting minimal to mild periodontal diseases. Lumbar spine BMD was measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and calcaneus speed of sound (SOS) by quantitative ultrasound (QUS). There were age-related decreases of alveolar BMD, calcaneus SOS and vertebral BMD. There were significant correlations between two of the respective bone mass values. Correlations between clinical dental findings and bone mass data including alveolar BMD, SOS and lumbar spine BMD were investigated. Significant correlations were demonstrated between alveolar BMD and calcaneus SOS or vertebral BMD. Alveolar BMD showed significant correlation with clinical dental findings including periodontal pocket depth and mobility as well as calcaneus SOS and lumbar spine BMD. Using multivariate analysis combinations of univariate predictors, including deoxypyridinoline (DPD), significantly predicted attachment levels. The SOS value was useful combined with other predictors for predicting attachment level. It was concluded that the new method of evaluating alveolar BMD is useful to predict systemic bone mass and strength as well as dental clinical findings.