Bone mineral content of mandibles: normal reference values--rate of age-related bone loss.

The purpose was to obtain the normal sex- and age-related reference values for the bone mineral content (BMC) in the bones of the mandible and the forearms, as estimated by dual-photon absorptiometry; to examine the effect of tooth loss on the mandibular BMC, i.e., BMC in the basal part of the mandible; and to analyze the rate of the sex- and age-related BMC loss in the mandible in normal old edentulous individuals greater than or equal to 70 years of age and its relationship to the corresponding BMC loss in the forearm bones. The following groups were measured: young dentate adults (n = 100; women (W): men (M) = 1:1), young, long-term edentulous W (n =15), and old edentulous individuals (n = 24 W, 10 M). In the old group the BMC measurements were repeated after 2- or 3-year period (n = 18 W, 10 M). The analyses indicate that the mandibular BMC reference values differ by sex and age; but correction for the state of dentition seems of minimal benefit. The average BMC loss (%) in the bones of the mandible and the forearms seems to be higher in old W (1.5 and 1.4% per year) than in old M (0.9 and 0.7% per year), but of the same magnitude in each sex. The relationship between the BMC loss (%) in the two sites was significant (P less than 0.01) but rather weak. Thus, it seems important to follow the sex- and age-related BMC loss in the mandible separately.