Comparison of mandibular bone mineral density in osteoporotic, osteopenic and normal elderly edentulous subjects measured by the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry technique.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the mandibular body bone mineral density according to bone mineral density status of spine and femur measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) technique in elderly edentulous individuals.

BACKGROUND

One of the factors that affect the survival rate of implants is bone mineral density (BMD) of the jaws.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty edentulous elderly patients' (27 women and 23 men) spine, femur and the mandibular body BMDs were measured using DXA technique. BMD scans of the AP lumbar spine (L2-L3) and femur were classified using World Health Organisation criteria for bone mass.

RESULTS

There was a statistically significant difference between the normal femur group's-osteoporosis group's mandibular body BMD (p = 0.001) and femoral osteopaenia group's-osteoporosis group's mandibular body BMD (p < 0.001). The femoral osteoporosis group's mandibular body BMDs were lower than those of both the normal femoral and the femoral osteopaenia group subjects'.

CONCLUSION

Classification of edentulous mandibles according to low and high bone mineral densities is a problem in implant dentistry. The results of this study demonstrated that femoral bone mineral density status may be used to provide preliminary information about the bone mineral density of the mandibular body region in elderly edentulous subjects.