An investigation of the relationship between systemic bone density and clinical periodontal status in post-menopausal Asian-American women.
OBJECTIVE
The relationship between osteoporosis and periodontal disease is not understood. The aim of this study was to examine the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and periodontal status in a population of Asian-American women.


METHODS
Cross-sectional investigation of the association between systemic BMD and periodontal status.


METHODS
Thirty post-menopausal, dentate, Asian-American women who were screened for osteoporosis and chronic periodontitis.


METHODS
BMD of the os calcis, composed primarily of trabecular bone, was assessed by DEXA scanning. Periodontal assessments included tooth loss, plaque index, probing depths, and clinical attachment levels. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted to determine the strength of associations between BMD and clinical parameters.


RESULTS
Statistically significant negative correlations were found between BMD and tooth loss and BMD and clinical attachment loss (p < 0.01). Those with normal BMD had lost, on average, 6.8 teeth, compared to 10.5 teeth in the osteopenic group, and 16.5 teeth in the osteoporotic group (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Decreasing BMD was associated with increased clinical attachment loss and tooth loss that was independent of plaque scores. These data support an association between BMD and periodontal status.
Mohammad
Abdel R
AR
Geriatric Dental Program, The Ohio State University, College of Dentistry, 305 W. 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. mohammad.6@osu.edu
Hooper
Deborah A
DA
Vermilyea
Stan G
SG
Mariotti
Angelo
A
Preshaw
Philip M
PM
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D001213:Asian; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000502:physiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000145:classification; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000145:classification; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000145:classification; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000145:classification