title: Women with low bone mineral density and dental panoramic radiography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate whether some mandibular measurements on panoramic radiographs are associated with low bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 122 panoramic dental radiographs and bone density tests from women 50 years or older were examined. Bone mineral density was measured in the lumbar spine and proximal femur regions through dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. The mandibular cortical bone thickness below the mental foramen, mandibular alveolar bone resorption, and panoramic mandibular index were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mandibular cortical thickness and mandibular alveolar bone resorption showed the highest specificity (lumbar spine: 89.8% vs 73.5%, proximal femur: 83.6% vs 71.2%, respectively). The panoramic mandibular index demonstrated the highest sensitivity (lumbar spine: 43.8%; proximal femur: 40.8%). The association between the mandibular cortical thickness and bone mineral density was statistically significant even after adjustment for hormonal treatment, smoking, age at menopause, and body mass index (P = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is suggested that panoramic radiography may be useful for confirming individuals who present with low bone mineral density.
authors.affiliation: Feira de Santana State University, Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil. johpassos@gmail.com
authors.forename: Johelle Santana
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Passos
authors.forename: Isaac Suzart
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Gomes Filho
authors.forename: Viviane Almeida
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Sarmento
authors.forename: Daiane Silva
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Sampaio
authors.forename: Fernanda Pedreira
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Julita Maria Freitas
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Simone Seixas
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Soraya C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Trindade
authors.forename: Eneida M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Cerqueira
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density; D001862:Bone Resorption; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017698:Postmenopause; D011861:Radiography, Dental; D012907:Smoking