title: Relation between Spongy Bone Density in the Maxilla and Skeletal Bone Density.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Osteoporosis is a disease affecting more than 300 million people worldwide and is responsible for numerous medical complications. This study aimed to investigate the relation between skeletal and maxillary bone density.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-three patients were recruited and divided between group A (osteoporosis), group B (healthy, control), and group C (osteopenia) on the basis of a dual-energy x-ray absorptiomery (DXA) scan. These patients also received a CT scan on which bone density measurements were performed at five sites: maxilla midline, retromolar tuberosities, incisor, premolars, and molar regions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The bone density was lower in osteoporotic patients compared with the control patients. The bone mineral density (BMD) of the tuberosities showed the strongest correlations with the BMD of the hip and the spine (respectively, r = 0.50 and r = 0.61). The midline region showed moderate correlations with the hip (r = 0.47) and the spine (r = 0.46). For potential implant sites, the correlations with the BMD of the hip and spine were, however, small to insignificant. Based on measurements of bone density of the maxilla, it was possible to predict if the patient was osteoporotic or not with a sensitivity of 65% and a specificity of 83%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The maxillary bone density of subjects with osteoporosis is significantly lower than that of healthy patients. Moreover, there is a direct correlation between the density of the skeleton and the density of some sites of the maxilla. Using measurements of maxillary bone density in order to predict skeletal bone density might be a useful tool for the screening of osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Periodontology, Department of Oral Health Sciences, University of Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer, Belgium.
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Merheb
authors.affiliation: Unit of Periodontology, Department of Oral Health Sciences, University of Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer, Belgium.
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Temmerman
authors.affiliation: Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Coucke
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rasmusson
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kübler
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Institute of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9590-2039
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thor
authors.affiliation: Unit of Periodontology, Department of Oral Health Sciences, University of Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quirynen
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006615:Hip / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008437:Maxilla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed
keywords: Hounsfield units; bone density; bone mineral density; dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry; maxilla; skeletal