title: Correlation between bone mineral density of jaws and skeletal sites in an Iranian population using dual X-ray energy absorptiometry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between the bone density of various regions of jaws and skeletal bones.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 110 patients with a mean age of 55.01 ± 10.77 years were selected for the purpose of the present descriptive study. Dual X-ray Energy Absorptiometry (DXA) was carried out to determine bone mineral density (BMD) of the femur and lumbar vertebrae. Then all the subjects underwent DXA of the jaw bones and BMD values were determined at four jaw regions. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16 statistical software, and the correlation between the various BMD values was determined by Pearson's correlation coefficient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that 42.7% of females had normal BMD values in the femur, and in vertebrae, 20% were osteopenic and 37.3% suffered from osteoporosis, with statistically significant differences in the BMD values of the jaws between the three above-mentioned groups (P < 0.001). There was an increasing tendency toward osteopenia and osteoporosis with age. There was a positive correlation between BMD values of the femur and lumbar vertebrae and those of all the jaw regions under study (P < 0.005). There was a negative correlation (P < 0.01) between age and the BMD values of the femur, lumbar vertebrae and anterior maxilla.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The bone density of the maxilla and mandible and presence of osteoporosis or osteopenia in these bones might reflect the same problem in skeletal bones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Islamic Azad University, Dental Branch, Tehran, Iran, Member of Dental Implant Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Nasrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Esfahanizadeh
authors.forename: Sotoudeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Davaie
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Rokn
authors.forename: Hamid Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Daneshparvar
authors.forename: Noushin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bayat
authors.forename: Nasrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khondi
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ajvadi
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghandi
keywords: Bone mineral density; dual X-ray energy absorptiometry; jaw bones; osteoporosis; skeletal bones