Method: The study consisted 76 type-1 diabetic patients (38 males, 38 females; 14.16±2.46 years) and 76 healthy controls (38 males, 38 females; 14±2.08 years). Measurements were performed on tracings of panoramic radiographs. Borders of mandibular cortical bone, and right and left mental foramen were traced on acetate paper. The thickness of cortical bone at mental foramen region (Mental Index-MI) was measured at right and left and the mean value was obtained. The irregularity of cortical border was evaluated and classified as C1 (normal), C2 (limited irregularity in the endosteal border), and C3 (severely resorbed cortical bone) by using Mandibular Cortical Index (MCI). Differences between groups were tested with Mann-Whitney U test and categorical data was evaluated by Pearson’s chi-squared test and Fisher’s exact test. Bonferroni correction was made for all tests. Significance level was assigned as p<0.05
Results: Mandibular cortical thickness at mental foramen (MI) was significantly smaller in T1DM patients when compared to C group (T1DM 4.45±1.02mm; C 4.90±0.75mm) (p<0.01). According to MCI, mild to moderate irregularities were more common in T1DM group (C2: T1DM 13.15%, C 1.31%) and normal cortical border was less seen in T1DM group. (C1: T1DM 73.68%, C 98.68%) (p<0.05). MI was significantly smaller in T1DM females and males than C females and males (T1DM-females 4.49±0.81mm; C-females 4.93±0.70mm) (T1DM-males 4.47±1.20mm; C-males 4.86±0.77mm) (p<0.05). Mild to moderate irregularities were more common in T1DM-males (C2: T1DM-males 23.68%, C-males 2.63%) (p<0.05) whereas normal cortical border was less observed (C1: T1DM-males 73.68%, C-males 97.36%) (p<0.01).
Conclusion: Diabetes may have a negative effect on bone mineral composition and bone density which can be detected by panoramic radiographs.