Do Patients with Osteoporosis Have Higher Risk to Present Reduced Alveolar Ridge Height? An Imaging Analysis

Osteoporosis and periodontitis are both diseases that induce bone resorption. The objective of this study was to verify through panoramic radiography analysis whether patients with osteoporosis have a greater risk of periodontal disease (horizontal alveolar bone defect and vertical alveolar bone defect) when compared with patients without osteoporosis.In all, 100 women were selected: 50 with osteoporosis (T-score < -2.5 DP) and 50 without osteoporosis (T-score > -2.5 DP), using the T-score of proximal radius. Logistic regression test was performed to assess the risk of panoramic radiographic periodontal defects (horizontal and vertical bone defect), age, and bone mineral density influence.Advanced age women were three times more likely to present osteoporosis. Patients with osteoporosis have significantly higher risk (4.46 times) of presenting horizontal alveolar bone defect. Vertical alveolar bone defect results were nonsignificant.Our study results corroborate the literature trend that osteoporosis may influence the progression of alveolar ridge height loss (horizontal alveolar bone defect). Panoramic radiography may be used as a screening tool to help the diagnosis of periodontal bone loss in patients with osteoporosis.