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Stomatologija 2026; 28 (1): 10-6 297 KB

Effect of menopausal estrogen deficiency on dentin formation: A comparative analysis of mineralization front and predentin thickness in pre and postmenopausal women

Andamuthu Yamunadevi¹, D. B. Nandini², Mandana Donogh³, Praveen S. Basandi⁴, Manickam Selvamani⁵, G. S. Madhushankari⁴

Summary

Objective. The effects of menopausal estrogen deficiency on dentin and its uncalcified organic matrix, termed predentin, in humans have not been documented so far in the literature. Thus, the present study was conducted to study the effects of menopause on dentin by analyzing the mineralization front in predentin and measuring the predentin thickness in teeth of pre and post-menopausal women.

Material and methods. 80 freshly extracted teeth, collected from pre and postmenopausal women (40 from each group), between 30-60 years of age group, were decalcified and predentin thickness was measured and compared at the cuspal tip, middle third and apical third. Age-wise inter and intragroup comparison was done to know the influence of aging on predentin thickness. Wider metadentin zone, indicative of delay in mineralization process was observed and analyzed by grading them. Unpaired ‘t’ test was employed for the statistical analysis.

Results. There was no difference in predentin thickness between pre and post-menopausal women at all three sites. With advancing age, the predentin thickness decreased in both the study groups. Within the same age range (41-50 years), the predentin thickness slightly increased in postmenopausal women than premenopausal women. The presence of metadentin zone was more frequent (p<0.001) in the postmenopausal women.

Conclusions. Estrogen deficiency during menopause affects the dentin by causing delay in mineralization process and manifests as wider metadentin zone. Further studies on a larger scale including pre and postmenopausal women of 41-50 years are suggested for knowing the effect of menopause on predentin thickness.

Key words: dentinogenesis, estrogen, menopause, metadentin, predentin thickness.

Received: 02 03 2023

Accepted for publishing: 20 03 2026

¹Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Nandha Dental College and Hospital, Erode, Tamil Nadu, India

²Department of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, Dental College, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, Manipur, India

³Oral Pathology 360 (Youtube channel), Belgaum, Karnataka, India

⁴Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology & Microbiology, College of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Davangere, Karnataka, India

⁵Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology & Microbiology, Mahe Institute of Dental Sciences & Hospital, Mahe, U.T of Puducherry, India

Address correspondence to Andamuthu Yamunadevi Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Nandha Dental College and Hospital, Erode, Tamil Nadu – 638052, India.

E-mail address: yamunaoralpath@gmail.com



	Baltic Dental and Maxillofacial Journal

2026, Vol. 28, No. 1 CONTENTS International Scientific-Practical Conference “The Art And Science Of Orthodontics” February 6-7, 2026, Kaunas, Lithuania REVIEWS Clinical efficacy of aligners with mandibular advancement in treatment of Class II malocclusions compared to conventional functional appliances: A systematic review Deimantė Kuzminskaite, Jurga Liatukienė, Juozas Žilinskas 2-9 SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES Effect of menopausal estrogen deficiency on dentin formation: A comparative analysis of mineralization front and predentin thickness in pre and postmenopausal women Andamuthu Yamunadevi, D. B. Nandini, Mandana Donogh, Praveen S. Basandi, Manickam Selvamani, G. S. Madhushankari 10-16 REVIEWS Advances in the prevention and management of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: A literature review Benas Ilekis, Salma Varoneckaitė, Juozas Žilinskas 17-23 CASE REPORTS The formation of epithelial orbital cysts secondary to orbital implants and reconstruction with computer-assisted manufactured patient-specific implant: A two-part case series Fiona L. Guan, Paul Hankinson, Sachin M. Salvi, Nicholas J. Lee 24-28 Diagnosis of secretory carcinoma of the upper lip: A rare case report and literature review Caroline Alfaia-Silva, Túlio Silva Rosa, Paulo Victor Mendes Penafort, Larissa Tinô de Carvalho Silva, Amanda Almeida Leite, Renata d'Andrada Tenório Almeida Silva, Catarina Rodrigues Rosa de Oliveira, Sonia Maria Soares Ferreira, Ricardo Luiz Cavalcanti Albuquerque-Júnior 29-32 © 2026 Stomatologija		Stomatologija 2026; 28 (1): 10-6 297 KB Effect of menopausal estrogen deficiency on dentin formation: A comparative analysis of mineralization front and predentin thickness in pre and postmenopausal women Andamuthu Yamunadevi¹, D. B. Nandini², Mandana Donogh³, Praveen S. Basandi⁴, Manickam Selvamani⁵, G. S. Madhushankari⁴ Summary Objective. The effects of menopausal estrogen deficiency on dentin and its uncalcified organic matrix, termed predentin, in humans have not been documented so far in the literature. Thus, the present study was conducted to study the effects of menopause on dentin by analyzing the mineralization front in predentin and measuring the predentin thickness in teeth of pre and post-menopausal women. Material and methods. 80 freshly extracted teeth, collected from pre and postmenopausal women (40 from each group), between 30-60 years of age group, were decalcified and predentin thickness was measured and compared at the cuspal tip, middle third and apical third. Age-wise inter and intragroup comparison was done to know the influence of aging on predentin thickness. Wider metadentin zone, indicative of delay in mineralization process was observed and analyzed by grading them. Unpaired ‘t’ test was employed for the statistical analysis. Results. There was no difference in predentin thickness between pre and post-menopausal women at all three sites. With advancing age, the predentin thickness decreased in both the study groups. Within the same age range (41-50 years), the predentin thickness slightly increased in postmenopausal women than premenopausal women. The presence of metadentin zone was more frequent (p<0.001) in the postmenopausal women. Conclusions. Estrogen deficiency during menopause affects the dentin by causing delay in mineralization process and manifests as wider metadentin zone. Further studies on a larger scale including pre and postmenopausal women of 41-50 years are suggested for knowing the effect of menopause on predentin thickness. Key words: dentinogenesis, estrogen, menopause, metadentin, predentin thickness. Received: 02 03 2023 Accepted for publishing: 20 03 2026 ¹Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Nandha Dental College and Hospital, Erode, Tamil Nadu, India ²Department of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, Dental College, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, Manipur, India ³Oral Pathology 360 (Youtube channel), Belgaum, Karnataka, India ⁴Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology & Microbiology, College of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Davangere, Karnataka, India ⁵Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology & Microbiology, Mahe Institute of Dental Sciences & Hospital, Mahe, U.T of Puducherry, India Address correspondence to Andamuthu Yamunadevi Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Nandha Dental College and Hospital, Erode, Tamil Nadu – 638052, India. E-mail address: yamunaoralpath@gmail.com