Abstract
The aim of the present study was to analyze a potential relationship between bone atrophy in the lumbar spine and the periodontal condition in post-menopausal women with periodontal problems. Thirty-eight female patients who agreed to partici-pate in this study were divided into two groups, based on the radiographic analysis of the degree of bone atrophy in the lumbar spine: 18 patients without bone atrophy (group N, mean age 57.0± 1.6) and 20 patients with bone atrophy (group A, mean age 60.0± 1.5). Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine was determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. BMD values and percentage of BMD compared to peak bone mass or age-matched bone mass were 0.902± 0.029g/cm2, 105.6± 3.4%, and 83.2± 2.7% in group N, and 0.763± 0.003g/cm2, 90.8± 3.4%, and 69.2± 2.6% in group A, respectively. BMD levels in group A were significantly lower than those in group N (p< 0.05). The two groups did not differ significantly in any physical or social variables. The number of teeth present and the percentage of treated teeth were 26.0± 0.6 and 46.0± 4.2% in group N, and 23.0± 1.0 and 57.0± 5.3% in group A, respectively. The mean probing depth, the mean attachment level and the percentage of sites with bleeding on probing were 2.6± 0.2mm, 3.3± 0.2mm and 19.2± 3.9% in group N, and 2.7± 0.1mm, 3.5± 0.2mm and 30.8± 4.3% in group A, respectively. The percentage of sites with bleeding on probing in group A was significantly higher than in group N (p<0.05). The percentages of teeth with± 21%/50% alveolar bone loss were 53.1± 7.5% and 20.0± 4.7% in group N, and 65.3± 6.9% and 29.6± 5.4% in group A, respectively. Alveolar bone loss in group A was higher than that in group N. These results indicate that the degree of bone atrophy in the lumbar spine may be associated with periodontal breakdown, but further investigation is warranted.
