title: Alveolar bone mass in pre- and postmenopausal women with serum calcium as a marker: a comparative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In most women bone mass reaches its peak in the third decade of life and declines thereafter with the onset of menopause and might lead to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis may result in reduced jaw bone mass and alterations of the mandibular structure. Qualitative and quantitative indices have been used for panoramic radiographs to assess the alveolar bone quality.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare the alveolar bone quality of premenopausal and postmenopausal women using the panoramic mandibular index (PMI). This study also aimed to estimate the levels of serum calcium in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single centre case control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 30 patients were divided into three groups of ten each - the healthy group, control group, and study group. Alveolar bone mass was evaluated by the PMI. Serum calcium was also assessed for all the patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The results obtained were subjected to statistical analysis by one-way analysis of variance using Statistical Software SPSS version 17, Tukey test for comparision, Pearson's correlation coefficient was employed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Premenopausal women had the highest values for alveolar cortical bone mass as recorded by the PMI, followed by postmenopausal women with a healthy periodontium. The lowest values were recorded in the group of postmenopausal women with chronic generalized periodontitis. Similar results were found for serum calcium values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postmenopausal women exhibit a reduced alveolar bone mass and lowered levels of serum total calcium with the increasing age. These changes may be useful indicators for low skeletal bone mineral density or osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Amitha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramesh
authors.forename: Karishma
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mahajan
authors.forename: Biju
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shenoy
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhandary
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D017697:Premenopause / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002118:Calcium