2003 Volume 66 Issue 1 Pages 63-71
We attempted to determine if there is a relation between occlusal status and bone mineral density (BMD) in the calcaneus. The subjects were 100 women, between 34 and 87 years of age, who visited the Department of Prosthodontics Clinic of Osaka Dental University Hospital. Premenopausal women and those with prior use of hormone replacement therapy were not included. BMD was evaluated by ultrasonic measurements of the calcaneus using the Achilles system and the subjects were divided into three groups based on their BMD (<70.1, 70.1-78.8, >78.8). The occlusal status at the first visit was retrospectively assessed based on hospital records, and categorized according to Eichner's classification. The covariates simultaneously considered in the analysis by the logistic regression model were : age at first visit, years since first visit, loss of occlusal support, use of removable dental prostheses, age at menopause, history of hysterectomy and ovariectomy, oral conditions, body mass index, and tobacco use. A poor occlusal status at the first visit was significantly associated with decreased BMD, The multivariate odds ratio (mul-OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% Cl) calculated with the proportional odds model were 3.17 (0.93-10.85) and 5.11 (1.02-25.62) for class B and C versus class A, respectively, in model-I. There was a significant dose-response relation (Trend p=0.030). Mul-OR and 95% Cl were 2.49 (0.73-8.47) and 8.75 (1.77-43.31) for class B1-B3 and B4+C versus class A, respectively, in model-II. There was a significant dose-response relation (Trend p=0.008). We found that there was a strong association between poor occlusal support in the molar region and bone loss in the calcaneus.
