Tözüm Tolga F, Taguchi Akira
Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
N Y State Dent J. 2004 Jan;70(1):32-5.
Osteoporosis affects large segments of elderly populations, especially postmenopausal women. Bone mineral density (BMD) assessment of the skeleton by means of several pieces of equipment, such as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, have been useful in identifying individuals with low BMD or at high risk of suffering osteoporotic fracture. Recent investigators have demonstrated a significant association between BMD of the mandible and the peripheral skeleton in postmenopausal women. Some studies also have linked low BMD of the mandible and the peripheral skeleton with alveolar bone loss of the mandible and tooth loss. Dental panoramic radiology is a useful imaging modality by which the dentist can evaluate the whole dentition as well as the jawbones. Clinicians have started to focus on some mandibular panoramic indices, such as mandibular cortical index and mandibular cortical thickness, for the identification of elderly individuals who should undergo BMD assessment. In comparison with peripheral BMD measurement equipment in the medical field, the dentist will be able to identify osteoporotic elderly individuals by means of dental panoramic radiographs taken for the diagnosis of the teeth and the jawbones without additional cost. It is likely that the clinician may estimate the future risk of tooth loss in elderly individuals with periodontitis and osteoporosis by dental panoramic radiographs.
骨质疏松症影响着很大一部分老年人群，尤其是绝经后女性。通过双能X线吸收法等多种设备对骨骼进行骨密度（BMD）评估，有助于识别骨密度低或有骨质疏松性骨折高风险的个体。最近的研究人员已经证明，绝经后女性下颌骨的骨密度与外周骨骼之间存在显著关联。一些研究还将下颌骨和外周骨骼的低骨密度与下颌骨牙槽骨丧失和牙齿脱落联系起来。牙科全景放射学是一种有用的成像方式，牙医可以通过它评估整个牙列以及颌骨。临床医生已经开始关注一些下颌全景指标，如下颌皮质指数和下颌皮质厚度，以识别应该进行骨密度评估的老年人。与医学领域的外周骨密度测量设备相比，牙医能够通过为诊断牙齿和颌骨而拍摄的牙科全景X线片识别骨质疏松的老年人，而无需额外费用。临床医生很可能可以通过牙科全景X线片估计患有牙周炎和骨质疏松症的老年人未来牙齿脱落的风险。
