title: Comparison of Cone Beam Computed Tomography-Derived Alveolar Bone Density Between Subjects with and without Aggressive Periodontitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Understanding the changes in bone density of patients affected by aggressive periodontitis could be useful in early disease detection and proper treatment planning.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare alveolar bone density in patients affected with aggressive periodontitis and periodontally healthy individuals using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was conducted on 20 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of aggressive periodontitis. Twenty periodontally healthy patients attending the dental clinics for implant placement or extraction of impacted third molars served as controls. Alveolar bone density was measured using CBCT scanning. Comparisons between aggressive periodontitis group and controls for age and alveolar bone density of the anterior and posterior regions were performed using an independent sample t-test. Multivariable linear regression models were also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The differences between groups in regard to age, anterior and posterior alveolar bone density was not statistically significant (p<0.05). In the posterior region, the multivariable regression model showed that bone density was not associated with age, gender or the study groups. Whereas, in the anterior region, patient's age was found to be significantly associated with bone density, p=0.014.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alveolar bone density as measured by CBCT in aggressive periodontitis patients was not different from periodontally healthy individuals. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Periodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University , Jeddah, Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Mohammad S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Al-Zahrani
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Periodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University , Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt .
authors.forename: Eman Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Elfirt
authors.affiliation: Resident, Department of Periodontics, Assir Dental Center , Ministry of Health, Abha, Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Manea M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Al-Ahmari
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University , Jeddah, Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Ibrahim A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Yamany
authors.affiliation: Consultant, Department of Periodontics, King Saud Medical Complex , Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Maher A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Alabdulkarim
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Orthodntics, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University , Jeddah, Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Khalid H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Zawawi
keywords: Gray scale; Humans; Mandible; Periodontal disease; Retrospective studies; i-CAT