title: Correlation of the interdental and the interradicular bone loss: A radiovisuographic analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Presence of furcation involvement indicates advanced periodontitis, and a potentially less-favorable prognosis, for the affected tooth and its diagnosis has always been an enigma. The present study was carried out to measure and correlate the interdental and interradicular bone loss in patients suffering from periodontitis using radiovisuography (RVG) for the purpose of early furcation diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 50 patients suffering from chronic generalized periodontitis and with furcation involvement in mandibular molars were selected. Under standardized conditions, RVGs were taken and the morphologic measurements defining the furcation areas were recorded and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interradicular bone loss of about 0.8 mm or more, was observed in the study subjects only when the bone loss at the interdental area was minimal of 3.7 mm. The correlation between the interradicular and the interdental bone loss was statistically highly significant (T-test, P < 0.001). A stronger correlation was observed in subjects above 40 years of age as compared with the younger subjects. There was not much difference in the degree of correlation between the interradicular and the interdental bone loss when compared in the context of gender.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The very first millimeter of interradicular bone loss was seen when the interdental bone loss was around 4 mm. Therefore, to detect the earliest lesions of furcations, the interdental bone loss can be kept as an approximate guide for the comprehensive diagnosis and management of such sites/patients. The current investigation paves the path for future longitudinal studies with larger samples to ascertain these findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Implantology, National Dental College and Hospital, Gulabgarh, Derabassi, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Vishakha
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Grover
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Implantology, National Dental College and Hospital, Gulabgarh, Derabassi, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Ranjan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malhotra
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Implantology, M.N.D.A.V Dental college and Hospital, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Anoop
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kapoor
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Implantology, National Dental College and Hospital, Gulabgarh, Derabassi, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Chahat Singh
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Mankotia
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Implantology, Laxmi Bai Dental College, Patiala, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Rupika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bither
keywords: Chronic periodontitis; early diagnosis; furcation involvement; interdental bone loss; interradicular bone loss