Evaluation of mandibular inferior cortical bone thickness using panoramic radiographs in edentulous and dentate cases
Abstract Background: Osteoporosis is a disease of the bone structure which has many outcomes for the patient. Tooth loss and failure of implant placement can be related to this disorder in the jaw bones which is shown by the reduction of mandibular inferior cortical thickness. The aim of this study is to find a relationship between mandibular inferior cortical thickness using panoramic radiographs and tooth existence. Methods: A total of 57 panoramic views of complete edentulous patients and 164 partial edentulous cases were evaluated and compared to 117 dentate age and sex matched subjects. Mandibular cortical thickness was measured on 3 reference points (below the mental foramen (S1), estimated position of the first molar (S2) estimated position of the third molar (S3)) on both left and right sides using marking gauge in Agfa program. Results: Data revealed that cortical bone thickness was significantly reduced in older patients (P=0.031). The final value of the three measurements of the mandibular border thickness was 2.3128mm ± 0.74840 in the right side (RS) and 2.407±0.802 mm in the left side (LS) for the complete edentulous group, 2.9026± 0.7513 mm in RS and 2.9976 ±1.06769 in LS for partial edentulous group and 2.8709± 0.6263 in RS and 2.9812 ±0.83081 in LS for the dentate cases. Complete edentulous cases and partial edentulous cases that had lost posterior teeth had no significant difference in cortical thickness, but both groups had a significant thinner cortical width compared to dentate subjects (P= 0.001 and P=0.002). But lack of anterior teeth did not have the same effect compared to dentate individuals (P=0.929). Conclusions: The present study demonstrates a significant relationship between tooth loss in the posterior region and reduction of inferior mandibular border which is a value of osteoporosis. Anterior tooth loss however does not have the same effect. Dentist and physicians should be in close contact in such patients to avoid further tooth loss and also diagnose this chronic disease in earlier stages.