Periodontal Conditions in Patients with Osteoporosis

The aim of the present study was to analyze the possible relationship between osteoporosis and the degree of periodontal disease in postmenopausal women. Thirty-five female patients with osteoporosis (group O, mean age 63.0±1.5) and 20 normal women with periodontitis (group P, mean age 63.6±0.6) were selected and examined clinically. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine (n=18) and forearm (n=17) was determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. All subjects in group O were of average build, but they had low BMD (percentage to peak bone mass: 60.5±1.3%). No significant correlation was found between the BMD level and periodontal clinical parameters in group 0. Numbers of present teeth and percentage of treated teeth were 23.0±1.3, 60.0±4.1% in group 0, 22.6±1.5, 53.2±6.2% in group P, respectively, Percentage of periodontally diseased teeth and bleeding on probing were 46.2±6.3%, 37.5±4.2% in group O and 39.6±6.3%, 24.6-±-4.4% in group P, respectively. Periodontal conditions in group O were more severe than those in group P. These results suggest that severe osteoporosis may be associated with periodontal breakdown, but further investigation will be necessary.