Preventive Dental Treatment Workload/Costs to Mitigate Antiresorptive Bone Medication-related Osteonecrosis Risk.

PURPOSE: To determine the extent of dental disease and associated treatment costs designed to mitigate the risk of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ) among older, socially disadvantaged veterans prior to physician's administration of antiresorptive medication for osteoporosis or malignant bone disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study based on over seven years (2008-2015) of data describes the type and volume of disease, treatment, work-load measures, and costs using Veterans Affairs databases. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-two outpatients (94% male, mean age 69 ± 12 years) were referred by physicians for clinical/radiographic examination and treatment. Sixteen had a healthy dentition and 17 were completely edentulous with satisfactory prostheses. Three edentulous patients required prosthesis adjustment, 116 dentate individuals required restoration of carious teeth (mean 6.3 ± 5.7) and multiple quadrant (mean 3.1 ± 1.0) scaling/subgingival curettage. In the latter group, 75 required extractions (mean 6.0 teeth, range 1-23). Clinician's (dentist and dental assistant) costs for providing care and preventive education over the 7-year timespan came to almost $132,700. CONCLUSION: Older veterans requiring initiation of antiresorptive bone medication harbor extensive, untreated dental disease requiring immediate treatment. An appropriate physician-to-dentist referral network and provision of oral care and patient education prior to initiation of medication can potentially moderate the risk of jaw osteonecrosis.

Prevalence of calcified carotid artery atheromas on digital panoramic images among perimenopausal and postmenopausal African American women.

OBJECTIVE: Health care disparities, often of an obscure nature, result in African American women (AAw) having enhanced risk of adverse cardiovascular events. Therefore, we sought to determine the prevalence of calcified carotid artery atheromas (CCAA), a validated risk indicator of these events, on their digital panoramic images. STUDY DESIGN: Comprehensive electronic medical records and digital panoramic images of self-identified AAw aged ≥45 years treated between 2007 and 2014 were retrieved from a Veterans Affairs Dental Service. Images were reviewed for CCAA in the cervical bifurcation region, and medical records were reviewed for atherogenic risk factors: hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. RESULTS: The study sample of 171 AAw (mean age 58.2 ± 8.0 years) evidenced a 24% CCAA positive prevalence rate. In comparison with the CCAA negative group, those with atheromas were significantly older (61.4 ± 10.1 vs. 57.2 ± 7.0), diabetic, and dyslipidemic. Also observed among the full study sample was significant concordant increase of CCAA prevalence with age. Among those who were CCAA positive, there was a significant increased prevalence of dyslipidemia with age. CONCLUSIONS: Panoramic images of older AAw frequently revealed carotid atheromas, a risk indicator of generalized atherosclerosis and future adverse cardiovascular events.

Prevalence of calcified carotid artery atheromas on panoramic images of older men with gout: a descriptive retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: Given the enhanced risk of ischaemic stroke resulting from the direct effects of hyperuricaemia on vascular plaque formation seen among older males with gout, we sought to determine the prevalence of calcified carotid artery atheromas (CCAAs) on their panoramic images (PIs). METHODS: Medical record librarians identified all male patients over 45 years, who had a diagnosis of gout and a PI incidentally obtained between 2000 and 2015. The prevalence rate of CCAA on technically appropriate images was determined, as were these patients' atherogenic risk profiles including: age, body mass index, hypertension and dyslipidaemia. Comparisons of atherogenic risk factors were made between this cohort and those without CCAA. RESULTS: Of the 531 patients with gout, 163 patients were adjudicated to be CCAA+ (the panoramic image demonstrates a calcified carotid artery atheroma). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that a comorbid diagnosis of diabetes mellitus or dyslipidaemia, or advancing age was determinant in differentiating patients who were CCAA+ vs those who were CCAA- (the panoramic image does not demonstrate a calcified carotid artery atheroma). CONCLUSIONS: CCAAs often herald an ischaemic stroke and may be seen on the PIs of patients with gout, especially those with increased age, dyslipidaemia or diabetes. Thus, dentists must be uniquely vigilant in detecting these lesions when evaluating the images of all patients with gout, especially those with additional positive risk factors.

Patients Receiving Parenteral Bisphosphonates for Malignant Disease and Having Developed an Atypical Femoral Fracture Are at Risk of Concomitant Osteonecrosis of the Jaw: An Evidence-Based Review.

PURPOSE: The risk of developing concomitant medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) in patients who have sustained an atypical femoral fracture (AFF) in association with parental administration of a bisphosphonate osteoclastic inhibitor medication for malignant disease is unclear. Published data were searched to determine the prevalence of these concomitant adverse medication events, if any. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review of published case series in the PubMed database was undertaken to ascertain the prevalence of patients having a concomitant history of AFF and MRONJ. The data were analyzed to provide prevalence rates of these events from the literature. RESULTS: Two case series were identified that delineated the risk (25 and 33%, respectively) of concomitant development of MRONJ and AFF in recipients of parenteral bisphosphonate medication administered for malignant disease. CONCLUSION: The published data suggest that approximately 30% of patients receiving parenteral bisphosphonates and having sustained an AFF could develop comorbid MRONJ.

Meaningful correlation between asymptomatic retinal arteriole emboli and calcified carotid plaque found on panoramic dental imaging of males with diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: There is ongoing controversy with regard to the stability of calcified carotid artery plaques (CCAPs) seen in the bifurcation area on panoramic images (PIs). Therefore, we sought to evaluate the possibility of these plaques shedding emboli by observing their relationship with ipsilateral retinal emboli. STUDY DESIGN: The study group included 50 neurologically and visually asymptomatic males with diabetes, with PIs that incidentally demonstrated CCAPs (CCAP+) and contemporaneous digital retinal images that had been obtained for evaluation of diabetic retinopathy. The control group consisted of 50 males with diabetes who were matched for age and body mass index and had undergone both imaging studies and whose PIs were devoid of carotid plaques (CCAP-). The presence of retinal emboli was determined by two ophthalmologists blinded to the patients' medical histories, and the prevalence rates for the two groups were calculated. RESULTS: The presence of asymptomatic retinal arteriolar emboli was found in the eye ipsilateral to the radiographically observed carotid atheroma in 10 of 50 (20%) of the patients in the CCAP+ group, compared with 2 of 50 (4%) in the CCAP- group, and this difference was statistically significant (Fisher's exact P < .03). CONCLUSIONS: Some male patients with diabetes mellitus type II having calcified carotid artery atheromas in the bifurcation area, as visualized on PIs, may have significant sequelae as evidenced by retinal artery emboli.

Association of calcified carotid atheromas visualized on panoramic images and aortic arch calcifications seen on chest radiographs of postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: Occult atherosclerotic disease is the leading cause of death among older women. The authors hypothesized that women with calcified carotid artery plaque (CCAP) visualized on panoramic images were more likely to have aortic arch calcifications (AAC) that were visible on chest radiographs (CRs), a risk indicator of experiencing cardiovascular events, than would matched cohorts who did not have atheromas. METHODS: The authors obtained the CRs of 36 female veterans (≥ 50 years) who had CCAP and atherogenically risk-matched them to those of 36 women without CCAP. A radiologist evaluated the CRs for AAC. Other study variables included age, ethnicity, body mass index and presence or absence of hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia. The authors computed descriptive and bivariate statistics. RESULTS: Women 60 years or older who had evidence of CCAP on their panoramic radiographs were significantly (P = .022; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.298-26.223) more likely to have evidence of AAC on their CRs than were similarly aged women who did not have evidence of CCAP. This association was not evident in women younger than 60 years. Among women who were both younger and older than 60 years, there was no evident association between the presence of CCAP and the severity (on a four point scale [0-3]) of AAC calcification. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of carotid plaque on panoramic images of women 60 years or older is significantly associated with presence of aortic arch calcifications on CRs. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Panoramic images of women 60 years or older must be evaluated for CCAP, given their association with AAC. Patients with atheromas should be referred to their physicians for further evaluation given the systemic implications.

Do carotid atheromas on panoramic images prognosticate arterial calcifications on mammograms: acknowledged markers of future adverse cardiovascular events?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between calcified carotid artery plaque (CCAP) on panoramic images and breast arterial calcifications (BAC) on mammograms, a validated independent risk indicator of fatal myocardial infarctions and strokes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women ≥55 years old having CCAP diagnosed by their dentists had their mammograms evaluated for BAC by a physician. Other study variables were age, ethnicity, body mass index, and medications for hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Descriptive and bivariate statistics and logistic regression were computed. RESULTS: Researchers identified 40 women (mean age 62.2 ± 6.2 years old) with CCAP, of whom 9 (prevalence rate 22.5%) also had BAC. The women with BAC tended to be older (65.1 vs 61.3 years old), more frequently hypertensive (100% vs 80.6%), and more frequently black than those without BAC, although these differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.10). CONCLUSIONS: CCAP on panoramic images of women is unrelated to the presence of BAC on mammograms.