title: Mandibular bone structure, bone mineral density, and clinical variables as fracture predictors: a 15-year follow-up of female patients in a dental clinic.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare three mandibular trabeculation evaluation methods, clinical variables, and osteoporosis as fracture predictors in women.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and thirty-six female dental patients (35-94 years) answered a questionnaire in 1996 and 2011. Using intra-oral radiographs from 1996, five methods were compared as fracture predictors: (1) mandibular bone structure evaluated with a visual radiographic index, (2) bone texture, (3) size and number of intertrabecular spaces calculated with Jaw-X software, (4) fracture probability calculated with a fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX), and (5) osteoporosis diagnosis based on dual-energy-X-ray absorptiometry. Differences were assessed with the Mann-Whitney test and relative risk calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Previous fracture, gluco-corticoid medication, and bone texture were significant indicators of future and total (previous plus future) fracture. Osteoporosis diagnosis, sparse trabeculation, Jaw-X, and FRAX were significant predictors of total but not future fracture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical and oral bone variables may identify individuals at greatest risk of fracture.
authors: Research and Development Center in Southern Älvsborg County, Borås, Sweden. grethe.jonasson@vgregion.se
authors: Grethe
authors: G
authors: Jonasson
authors: Annika
authors: A
authors: Billhult
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires