title: Mandibular morphological changes in low bone mass edentulous females: evaluation of panoramic radiographs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate morphological changes of the mandible in osteopenic and osteoporotic edentulous females.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two female edentulous patients underwent panoramic radiography and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry of the lumbar spine and femoral neck. Measurements of the gonial angle, antegonial angle, antegonial depth, antegonial index (AI), and mental index (MI) were performed. Patients were classified as normal (T-score > -1.0), osteopenic (T-score of -1.0 to 0 -2.5), or osteoporotic (T-score < -2.5).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The gonial angle did not show differences among the three categories of skeletal bone status (P > .05). The antegonial angle was significantly smaller in individuals with low bone mass (P < .05). The antegonial depth was significantly greater in osteoporotic (P < .05) and osteopenic individuals (P < .05). The AI and MI were significantly smaller in individuals with low bone mass (P < .05); however, after age adjustment there were no differences among the groups (P > .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Edentulous females with low bone mass have a deeper antegonial region. The thickness of the cortical mandibular bone is highly influenced by age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, School of Medicine, Federal University of Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. cdiodontologia@terra.com.br <cdiodontologia@terra.com.br>
authors.forename: Vinicius
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dutra
authors.forename: Hugh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Devlin
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Susin
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Horner
authors.forename: Artur Rocha Corrêa
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Fernandes
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002508:Cephalometry; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results