title: Oral Microbiota, Periodontal Status, and Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Females.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alterations in hormone levels during menopause decrease bone density and may worsen oral health, favoring the growth of periodontal pathogens, whose detection could improve the diagnosis of periodontitis. The aim of this study is to detect and quantify the main periodontal pathogens in the oral microbiota of postmenopausal females and to explore the relationship between clinical and periodontal parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an observational cross-sectional study of 76 postmenopausal females. Dental examinations and sampling for microbiologic evaluation were performed, and a history of osteoporosis/osteopenia was collected. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used for detecting and quantifying Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Campylobacter rectus (Cr), and Tannerella forsythia (Tf). The results obtained were subjected to statistical analyses. Statistical significance was defined as P <0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Periodontitis was detected in 77.1% of females with osteoporosis/osteopenia (P >0.05). A significant correlation was found between osteoporosis and missing teeth. T. forsythia and C. rectus were detected in 100% of the samples, Fn and Pg in 98.7%, and Aa in 73.7%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Osteoporosis did not influence the prevalence of periodontitis among postmenopausal females. The presence of periodontopathogenic bacteria was not sufficient to confirm disease. A preventive maintenance program for postmenopausal females, particularly osteoporotic females, who are at greater risk of tooth loss, could minimize the potential effects of bone loss on periodontal tissues.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Austral University of Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
authors.forename: Scarlette
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hernández-Vigueras
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Antimicrobials, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martínez-Garriga
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory, Faculty of Dentistry, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: María Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory, Faculty of Dentistry, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanz
authors.affiliation: Section of Oral Medicine, Department of Odontostomatology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Estrugo-Devesa
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Antimicrobials, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vinuesa
authors.affiliation: Section of Oral Medicine, Department of Odontostomatology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López-López
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Antimicrobials, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet, Barcelona, Spain.|CESPU (Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário [Cooperative for Higher, Polytechnic and University Education]), IINFACTS (Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada em Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde [Institute of Research and Advanced Training in Health Sciences and Technologies]), Gandra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viñas
mesh_terms: D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans; D001439:Bacteroides; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D064307:Microbiota; D010024:Osteoporosis; D010514:Periodontal Pocket; D010519:Periodontium / Q000382:microbiology*; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis; D017698:Postmenopause
keywords: Bacteria, anaerobic; oral health; osteoporosis Periodontal diseases; postmenopause; real-time polymerase chain reaction