Resorption of mandibular canal wall in the edentulous aged population.
BACKGROUND
The mandibular canal wall may be affected by the progress of residual ridge resorption after tooth extraction. Little knowledge is available regarding the relationship of specific systemic factors and the resorption of the mandibular canal wall.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the status of the mandibular canal in the edentulous mandible and to determine whether there is any relationship between the resorption of the mandibular canal wall and selected health indices in the elderly.


METHODS
The status of the mandibular canal was assessed from panoramic radiographs of 128 edentulous elderly subjects (32 men and 96 women).


RESULTS
The superior border of the mandibular canal was more frequently resorbed in women (32.6%) than in men (9.8%). Resorption in the mandibular canal wall was significantly more prevalent in subjects with asthma (odds ratio: 6.0), with thyroid disease (odds ratio: 3.04), and with a cortical thickness at the mandibular angle less than 1 mm thick (odds ratio 2.74).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that gender, asthma, and thyroid disease play important roles in resorption of the mandibular canal wall.
Xie
Q
Q
Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Wolf
J
J
Tilvis
R
R
Ainamo
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000150:complications; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects