Quantitative CT of Mandibular Bone Density As A Predictor of Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women

Objective: The aim of our study is to assess the effect of osteoporosis on the mandibular bone using QCT and to correlate between mandibular and systemic bone mineral densities in postmenopausal women. Subjects and Methods: Twenty postmenopausal women were subjected to full detailed history, comprehensive clinical examination, DXA measurements of the BMD of the lumbar vertebrae, the left femoral neck bone as well as the left forearm bones, QCT spine and mandibular BMD measurements. Results: According to DXA scan, 5 women were normal, 7 were osteopenic and 8 were osteoporotic. Statistical correlations between the mandibular buccal cortex, mandibular lingual cortex, and mandibular trabecular bone with different variables were done. Conclusion: The resulted data suggest that precise mandibular bone density measurement may be a method of identifying persons affected by generalized osteoporosis. Despite the obvious limitations of this study (cross-sectional study design and small number of cases), the results are promising. Future studies overcoming these points are needed to provide more close assessment of the disease effects on the mandible.