Abstract :
Objectives: To evaluate the correlation between radiographic signs of structural bone changes in digital panoramic image and the bone mineral density (BMD) assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and to assess the utility of panoramic radiographs in early detection of post-menopausal osteoporosis.
Methods: Fifty post-menopausal women between the ages of 43 years and 68 years were evaluated. Cortical width, cortical index, panoramic mandibular index, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) condylar morphology changes and the number of missing teeth were measured and evaluated from digital panoramic radiographs (DPR). Weight, height, menopausal status, age and temporomandibular disorders of the patients were recorded by questionnaire. BMD of the patients were measured with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry of Lumbar spine vertebrae (L1-L4) and left femoral neck for each participant.
Results: Pearson correlation coefficient test revealed that CW, PMI and NMT correlated with vertebral BMD and there were significant differences between groups with a statistically significant p-value < 0.05.Pearson Chi-Square test showed that CI correlated with BMD but TMJ condylar morphology changes didn't.
Conclusion: TMJ condylar morphology changes and TMD weren't correlated and couldn't predict low BMD, whereas CW, PMI and NMT were indicators for osteoporosis but not osteopenia in post-menopausal women and dental panoramic radiographs serve as a useful screening tool for early diagnosis of osteoporotic fractures.
Keyword :
Osteoporosis, Digital Panoramic Radiography, Menopause, Temporomandibular Joint