Maturitas
Volume 55, Issue 2 , Pages 126-131, 20 September 2006

Tooth count in elderly women in relation to their skeletal status

  • Bogna Drozdzowska

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pathomorphology in Zabrze, Silesian School of Medicine in Katowice, 3 Maja 13/15 Street, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +48 32 2714994; fax: +48 32 2714994.
    • ,
  • Wojciech Pluskiewicz

      Affiliations

    • Metabolic Bone Diseases Unit, Department and Clinic of Internal Diseases, Diabetology and Nephrology, Silesian School of Medicine in Katowice, Zabrze, Poland
    • ,
  • Mariusz Michno

      Affiliations

    • NZOZ, Rybnik, Poland

Received 14 March 2005; received in revised form 14 October 2005; accepted 25 October 2005. published online 07 July 2006.

Abstract 

Objectives

Generalized bone loss may contribute to the development of tooth loss in elderly individuals. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship of tooth count with hip and spine densitometry and phalangeal quantitative ultrasound (QUS) measurements and to compare skeletal status between women completely and partially edentulous and between women with caries or periodontal disease.

Methods

In the study, 67 postmenopausal women (37 edentulous and 30 with partial tooth loss) in the mean age of 62.8±7.2 years were evaluated. No reasons with potential influence on bone metabolism (chronic diseases or medications) were noted. In order to reveal the role of the factor underlying tooth loss, all patients were also divided into subjects with caries (n=27) and periodontal disease (n=40). Skeletal status was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the hip and spine (bone mineral density—BMD [g/cm2]) and by QUS at the hand proximal phalanges (amplitude-dependent speed of sound—Ad-SoS [m/s]).

Results

Women completely and partially edentulous did not differ significantly but a tendency to have lower values in women completely edentulous was noted. Comparisons between women with caries and periodontitis also did not show any significant differences (except for significantly lower Z-score of Ad-SoS in women with caries). Tooth count correlated only with hip BMD: in the whole group (r=0.25–0.30, p=0.04–0.01) and in women with caries (r=0.45–0.51, p=0.02–0.006). In women with periodontitis tooth count correlated only with Ad-SoS (r=0.36, p=0.002).

Conclusion

Associations between dental and skeletal status indicate that systemic bone loss in skeletal sites being mostly cortical may contribute to the tooth loss.

Keywords: Bone mineral density, Quantitative ultrasound, Periodontitis, Caries

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

PII: S0378-5122(05)00305-1

doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2005.10.011

Maturitas
Volume 55, Issue 2 , Pages 126-131, 20 September 2006

Article Tools