Do Patients with Osteoporosis Have Higher Risk to Present Reduced Alveolar Ridge Height? An Imaging Analysis

Background: Osteoporosis and periodontitis are both diseases that induce bone resorption. The objective of this study was to verify through panoramic radiography analysis whether patients with osteoporosis have a greater risk of periodontal disease (horizontal alveolar bone defect and vertical alveolar bone defect) when compared with patients without osteoporosis. Methods: In all, 100 women were selected: 50 with osteoporosis (T-score < -2.5 DP) and 50 without osteoporosis (T-score > -2.5 DP), using the T-score of proximal radius. Logistic regression test was performed to assess the risk of panoramic radiographic periodontal defects (horizontal and vertical bone defect), age, and bone mineral density influence. Results: Advanced age women were three times more likely to present osteoporosis. Patients with osteoporosis have significantly higher risk (4.46 times) of presenting horizontal alveolar bone defect. Vertical alveolar bone defect results were nonsignificant. Conclusion: Our study results corroborate the literature trend that osteoporosis may influence the progression of alveolar ridge height loss (horizontal alveolar bone defect). Panoramic radiography may be used as a screening tool to help the diagnosis of periodontal bone loss in patients with osteoporosis.

Periodontal disease defects and mandibular cortical index in lupus patients / Defeitos ósseos periodontais e índice da cortical mandibular em pacientes com lupus

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease that affects multiple organs. It is well known that lupus patients have higher risk of osteoporosis, but if the disease affects mandibular cortical bone and alveolar bone is not fully established. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate periodontal disease defects and mandibular osteoporotic alterations in patients with lupus as compared to healthy patients using panoramic radiographs. Material and Methods: The panoramic radiographs of 72 patients with lupus and 360 healthy patients were evaluated for the presence of bone loss secondary to periodontal disease, classified as horizontal and vertical bone loss. We also assessed mandibular osteoporotic alterations by using the mandibular cortical index. Logistic regression analysis was applied to estimate the risk of mandibular osteoporotic alterations as well as horizontal and vertical bone loss in patients with lupus as compared to healthy patients. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between groups in the presence of horizontal bone defects and mandibular cortical indexes. However, patients with lupus demonstrated that patients with lupus were 2.17 more likely to present vertical bone loss than healthy patients. Conclusions: Patients with lupus might have higher risk of vertical bone loss than healthy patients due to pathophysiology of their disease. Further larger prospective studies should be performed to confirm our findings (AU)

Introdução: Os lúpus eritematoso sistêmico é uma doença autoimune que afeta múltiplos órgãos. Pacientes com lúpus têm maior risco de osteoporose, mas é necessário elucidar-se como a doença afeta o esqueleto maxilo-mandibular. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar defeitos ósseos por doença periodontal e alterações osteoporóticas mandibulares em pacientes com lúpus, em comparação com pacientes saudáveis, utilizando-se radiografias panorâmicas. Material e Métodos: As radiografias panorâmicas de 72 pacientes com lúpus e 360 pacientes saudáveis foram avaliadas quanto à presença de defeitos ósseos verticais e horizontais por doença periodontal. Foram também avaliadas as alterações osteoporóticas da mandíbula por meio do índice da cortical mandibular. A regressão logística foi aplicada para estimar o risco de alterações osteoporóticas mandibulares, bem como a perda óssea horizontal e vertical em pacientes com lúpus, em comparação com pacientes saudáveis. Resultados: Não houveram diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre os grupos no tocante à presença de defeitos ósseos horizontais quanto à redução da densidade mineral óssea aferida por meio do índice da cortical mandibular. No entanto, pacientes com lúpus apresentaram 2,17 mais risco à perda óssea vertical do que pacientes saudáveis. Conclusões: Pacientes com lúpus podem ter maior risco de apresentar defeito ósseo vertical do que pacientes saudáveis devido à fisiopatologia de sua doença. Novos estudos prospectivos devem ser realizados para confirmar estes achados (AU)