2003, Vol. 5, No. 4

CONTENTS

CLINICAL ARTICLES

Restorative Factors that Affect the Biomechanics of the Dental Implant

SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES

The Influence of Sodium Fluoride on Chemiluminescence of Neutrophilic Leukocytes

Evaluation of Dental Health of Dental Students at Kaunas University of Medicine

Bone Mineral Density and Radiographic Mandibular Body Height

An in vitro study of the Sealing Ability of Materials Used for Furcation Perforation Treatment

Factors influencing the health of periodontal tissue and intensity of dental caries

Status of Individual Dosimetry for Dentists in Lithuania in year 1996-2001

CASE REPORTS

An Atraumatic Technique for Fabricating Precise Impressions

© 2004 Stomatologija

Stomatologija 2003; 5 (4): 137-40 204 KB

Bone Mineral Density and Radiographic Mandibular Body Height

Estera Balcikonyte, Irena Balciuniene, Vidmantas Alekna

Summary

The panoramic based measurements (the total height of the mandibular body and the height from the lower border of mandible to the lower border of the mental foramen) and Mandibular Ratio index were compared to bone mineral density of the lumbar area L2-L4 by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurements in 130 women. Correlations of Mandibular Ratio indexes with parameters reflecting skeletal status measured by DXA were not statistically significant. Significant correlations between Mandibular Ratio indexes and the total height of the mandibular body (r = 0.409, p<0.001 (right side); r =0.403, p<0.001 (left side)), and with the height from the lower border of mandible to the lower border of the mental foramen (r = -0.671, p<0.001 (right side); r = -0.709, p<0.001 (left side)) were noted. The measurements of the total height of the mandibular body and the height from the lower border of mandible to the lower border of the mental foramen do not correlate significantly with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry measurements and they should not be used as indicators of bone mineral status. The efficacy of the panoramic-based Mandibular Ratio index in diagnosing osteopenia/osteoporosis is low to moderate.

Key words: mandible, tooth loss, alveolar bone loss, bone mineral density, osteoporosis.

Address correspondence to Dr. Estera Balcikonyte, Institute of Stomatology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius university, 115 Zalgirio str., 2042 Vilnius, Lithuania. E-mail: esterab@takas.lt.

Received: 22 10 2003

Accepted for publishing: 27 11 2003