Plasma Osteocalcin Levels, Status of Oral Disease and Alteration in Mandibular Bone Density in Postmenopausal Women.

AIM

The present study was undertaken for assessing plasma osteocalcin levels, status of oral disease, and alteration in mandibular bone density in postmenopausal women (PMW).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In all, 80 premenopausal women and 80 PMW were enrolled. For analyzing the oral dryness, clinical score of oral dryness (CSOD) on a scale of up to 10 was used. Complete dental profiling of all the patients was done. Digital panoramic radiographs were taken for all the patients. Bone mineral density (BMD) was evaluated by measuring the following parameters: mandibular cortical index (MCI), panoramic mandibular index (PMI), mandibular cortical width (MCW), and fractal dimension (FD). Osteocalcin levels were evaluated with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. All the results were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS

Mean osteocalcin levels of PMW (453.12 ng/mL) were significantly higher in comparison to the premenopausal women (249.28 ng/mL). Postmenopausal women had significantly higher CSOD and number of peri-apical radiolucencies in comparison to premenopausal women. Bone mineral density as assessed by MCI was found to be negatively and significantly correlated with oral disease status and osteocalcin levels. Significant difference was obtained while comparing the MCI inbetween the two study groups.

CONCLUSION

There is significantly higher prevalence of oral lesions along with oral dryness in postmenopausal women. Also, thinning of mandibular cortex is significantly higher in postmenopausal women. Higher plasma osteocalcin levels help in predicting osteopenia/osteoporosis at an early stage in such patients.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

In PMW, special considerations should be made while planning for dental implant therapy.