Methods:
In the present study were included 37 postmenopausal edentulous females aged 54-85 years (average age 72.1±8.5 years), attending for dental implant treatment.
For all patients were made: bone mineral density measurements (BMD) of lumbar spine and both hips by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) (Lunar DEXA DPX-NT, GE Medical Systems) and cone beam computer tomography (CBCT) (Next generation i-CAT, Kavo eXam vision). From DXA analysis the T-score reading was used.
CBCT images were analysed with Dolphin Imagining software. Volumes of the maxilla and mandible were calculated. Sagittal cross section area of the whole mandible and area of the trabecular bone were measured in symphysis region and 6 mm anterior from mental aperture. Area of the whole bone and trabecular bone was measured in coronal slice in maxilla in orbital region. We calculated total bone area, cortical, trabecular bone area and proportion of cortical/ trabecular bone area.
Results:
There was correlation between lumbar BMD and volume of maxilla (r=0.34, p=0.025, Pearson correlation). There were no significant correlations between BMD and maxillary bone are measurements.
We couldn’t find correlation between BMD and volume of mandible. There were correlation between lumbar and femoral BMD and cortical bone area (r=0.376, p=0.022; r=0.321, p=0.053) and cortical/trabelucal bone proportion (r=0.351, p=0.033; r=0.444; p=0.006) in mandible midline. There were correlation between femoral BMD and cortical/trabelucal bone proportion (r=0.358, p=0.032) in left side of the mandible.
Conclusions:
Postmenopausal female with reduced BMD had reduced volume of maxillae. Postmenopausal female who had reduced general BMD also had reduced cortical bone amount in mandible, especially in frontal region.