Osteoporosis, fragility fracture, and periodontal disease:  a cross-sectional study in Spanish postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
Osteoporosis and periodontitis are common disorders that affect aging populations. It has been hypothesized that both conditions may be related. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between osteoporosis and periodontitis using vertebral fragility fracture as a real marker of osteoporosis and periodontal clinical examination to define periodontitis.


METHODS
Six hundred thirty-four women aged 55 to 70 years, with fragility spine fractures, and living in the same healthcare region of Seville, Spain, were invited to take part in this cross-sectional study conducted from 2008 to 2010. All the women included in the study were referred to undergo spine radiological examination, spinal densitometry, and full-mouth periodontal assessment.


RESULTS
With the exception of number of teeth (19 in the fractured postmenopausal group and 23 in the control group; P < 0.007) and sites with a clinical attachment level lower than 7 mm (P < 0.048), there were no significant differences in clinical and periodontal parameters among women in the fractured postmenopausal group and the control group. In short, fractured postmenopausal women have lost more teeth with more advanced attachment loss (clinical attachment level >7 mm). None of the definitions of periodontitis used resulted in significant differences between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The relationship between periodontitis and osteoporosis remains unclear, and further studies considering fragility fracture as a real marker of osteoporosis are warranted to clarify the exact role and effect of one condition on the other and the corresponding clinical implications.
Gynecology Division, Hospitales Universitarios Virgen del Rocío, Seville, Spain. mariaa.martinez.maestre.sspa@juntadeandalucia.es
Maria Angeles
MA
Martínez-Maestre
Guillermo
G
Machuca
Carmen
C
González-Cejudo
José Ramón Corcuera
JR
Flores
Rafael Torrejón
RT
Cardoso
Camil
C
Castelo-Branco
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications; D017698:Postmenopause; D013030:Spain; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology