Evaluation of bone density in the mandibles of young Australian adults of Mongoloid and Caucasoid descent.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the bone density in the mandibles of young Australian adults of Mongoloid and Caucasoid descent.


METHODS
A panoramic radiograph (Orthophos C, Siemens AG, Bensheim, Germany) was obtained of 79 dental students from the School of Oral Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia. Exposure factors were varied for males and females. The films were automatically processed in a single batch and the optical density measured blindly at two locations by two examiners. The optical density was compared by race and sex to detect bone density differences. Individual lifestyle habits (exercise, alcohol consumption, smoking and diet) was recorded in a self-administered questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyse the effects of physical, environmental and medical characteristics.


RESULTS
The Mongoloid subjects were found to have approximately 20% higher bone density at the angle of mandible than Caucasoid subjects (P = 0.0094 for males, P = 0.0004 for females).


CONCLUSIONS
Race is the most important variable associated with bone density. Mongoloid subjects should be given a higher exposure for panoramic radiography than that normally used for Caucasoid subjects.
Ong
R G
RG
Department of Oral Radiology, Perth Dental Hospital, Western Australia.
Stevenson
M R
MR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D044466:Asian People; D001315:Australia; D015519:Bone Density; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D044465:White People