Radiographic study of the prevalence of periodontal bone loss in Australian school-aged children attending the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of alveolar bone loss around the first permanent molars, and first and second deciduous molars in Australian school-aged children attending the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne. METHOD: Nine hundred and ninety-five records were examined for useable bitewing radiographs. From these, radiographs of 542 Australian school children aged 5-12 years were used. The cervical-enamel junction (CEJ) to the alveolar bone crest (ABC) distance was measured using the transparent ruler on the magnifier. Each inter-dental site that was readable was scored as one for the following categories: not available (NA); no bone loss (NBL)- the CEJ-ABC was < or =2 mm; questionable bone loss (QBL): the distance from the CEJ-ABC was >2 and <3 mm; and definite bone loss (DBL): the distance from the CEJ to ABC was > or =3 mm. RESULTS: Seventy-one children (13.0%) were found to have 83 DBL sites, as determined by bone levels >3.0 mm from the CEJ. Seventy children had QBL lesions only, 50 children had DBL only and 21 children had both. The overall prevalence of bone loss was 26%. Second deciduous molars were found to be the most affected teeth with almost 75% lesions being distal. These teeth comprised 50% of the DBL lesions. Children of Asian-Far Eastern origin had a higher percentage of sites with bone loss compared with children of Caucasian origin, being 29.5% and 19.7%, respectively, but lower than that of children of Middle-Eastern origin (35.2%). When the data were analysed with relation to age, there was no relationship between age and prevalence of bone loss. CONCLUSION: In the population studied, there was an overall prevalence of periodontal bone loss of 26% and DBL of 13% in an Australian school-aged group. Calculus was detected infrequently and, where present, was associated with bone loss.     

Attachment loss with postmenopausal age and smoking

To determine whether postmenopausal bone loss and factors associated with osteoporosis affect tooth retention, we examined vertebral and proximal femoral (postcranial) bone mineral density in relation to tooth loss and attachment loss in a cross-sectional study of 135 postmenopausal women (age range 41–70 yr). Women had at least 10 teeth and no evidence of moderate or severe periodontal disease. Full-mouth attachment loss measurements were made using a pressure-sensitive probe, and bone density was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Attachment loss was correlated with tooth loss (number of remaining teeth, radiologically determined), but not with vertebral or proximal femur bone density. Multivariate analysis showed current smoking (p = 0.01), years since menopause (p = 0.02) and the interaction of age and current smoking (p < 0.01), to be statistically significant predictors of attachment loss in our study population.     

A 6-year study on the pattern of periodontal disease progression

Abstract. The present longitudinal radiographic investigation was designed to study the change in the alveolar bone height over 6 years in relation to tooth type, age and the presence of previous bone loss in a group of 142 subjects (age 18–67 years) who were not under systematic periodontal treatment. The subjects were examined radiographically at baseline, and after 2 and 6 years, and sites showing significant (≥ 1 mm) change in the alveolar bone height during 2 consecutive examinations were identified. 90.2% of all examined sites showed no bone loss during the 6 years, while 8.6% and 1.2% of the sites exhibited bone loss during one or both examination periods, respectively, 3 groups of subjects within the studied population were identified. Approximately 5% of the subjects had high rates of periodontal disease progression whilst ∼ 70% demonstrated very few or no sites with bone loss, and ∼ 25% had a moderate level of disease progression during the study period. The results also showed that the number of sites exhibiting alveolar bone loss during the study period varied with respect to tooth type, age of the patient and presence of bone loss at baseline. In addition, significantly different rates of bone loss were disclosed with relation to tooth type ( P <0.01), age ( P <0.0001) and initial bone loss ( P <0.01). It was concluded that periodontal disease progression occurs infrequently and may take the form of discrete or recurrent episodes of loss of periodontal support which can be influenced by the location of the site, age of the subject and previous periodontal disease experience.     

侵袭性牙周炎牙槽骨吸收状况及相关因素分析

目的 评价未经治疗的侵袭性牙周炎(aggressive periodontitis,AgP)患者牙槽骨吸收状况并分析与牙槽骨吸收状况有关的因素,以期为临床提供参考.方法 对108例未经治疗的AgP患者[男45例,女63例;年龄≤25岁者34例(A组),＞25岁者74例(B组)]进行吸烟状况和教育背景的问卷调查,并测量全口牙邻面位点探诊深度(probing depth,PD,浅袋:PD=3、4 mm,中袋:PD=5、6 mm,深袋:PD≥7 mm);根据全口X线根尖片评价邻面牙槽骨吸收状况(轻、中、重度骨吸收).结果 实际共测量了2841颗牙.浅袋与轻度骨吸收(r=0.518,P=0.000)、深袋与重度骨吸收(r=0.366,P=0.000)均呈正相关;AgP患者男性轻、中、重度骨吸收牙数(分别为7.1±6.2、12.5±4.7、5.1±0.6)与女性(分别为8.7±6.3、12.9±4.8、4.2±0.5)差异无统计学意义(P值分别为0.707、0.671和0.413);B组中、重度骨吸收牙数(分别为13.6±4.2、5.2±3.7)显著多于A组(分别为11.0±5.5、3.6±3.5),P＜0.01;受过高等教育和未受高等教育者轻、中、重度骨吸收牙数差异无统计学意义(P值为0.314、0.862和0.407);吸烟是重度骨吸收AgP患者的危险因素之一(OR=1.961).结论 AgP患者PD与牙槽骨吸收程度相关;年龄和吸烟是影响AgP患者牙槽骨吸收的重要因素.     

Radiographic alveolar bone loss from posterior teeth in young adults over a 4-year period

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine alveolar bone loss from premolar and molar teeth in young adults over a 4-year period between the ages of 15-16 years and 19-20 years. Pairs of posterior bitewing radiographs from 382 subjects aged 15-16 years were examined and the height of the alveolar bone adjacent to mesial and distal tooth surfaces recorded. Repeat radiographs of the same individuals taken 4 years later were then examined and the height of the alveolar bone remeasured. Change in bone height over the study period was computed for individual sites. Clinical data for the cohort were also obtained at both examinations and included plaque score, bleeding on probing and probing depth, or the 3314 sites, 16.7% exhibited bone gain, 4.5% exhibited no change whilst 78.8% demonstrated bone loss. The overall mean bone loss for all sites combined was 0.407 mm. Bone loss less than 0.5 mm was found in 36% of sites, bone loss between 0.5 and 0.99 mm in 33% of sites whilst only 0.5% of sites had bone loss greater than 2 mm. Only one site had bone loss greater than 3 mm. Bone loss was affected significantly by subject (p < 0.05) and by site (p < 0.05) but there was no significant effect for tooth type, whether the surface was mesial or distal or between quadrants. There was significantly more bone loss from around maxillary teeth than mandibular (p < 0.05). There were no significant associations between bone loss and plaque score, bleeding on probing, pocket depth, gender or social class.     

Signs of carotid calcification from dental panoramic radiographs are in agreement with Doppler sonography results

BACKGROUND: Duplex ultrasonography (DS) is a frequently used noninvasive method for assessing carotid artery stenosis. The level of agreement between panoramic radiographs (PMX) findings of radiopacities in the area of C3-C4 and DS results has not been established. AIMS: (1) to examine the level of agreement between DS results and PMX signs of carotid calcification and (2) to evaluate the association between periodontitis and DS results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty-three subjects who had received a DS assessment at the University of Washington Medical Center within 36 months volunteered for a periodontal examination, including assessments of probing pocket depth (PPD), attachment level (PAL), evidence of bleeding on probing and bone loss from PMX. Two examiners independently analyzed the radiographs for evidence of carotid calcifications. The distance between the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) to bone level (BL) CEJ-BL was used to assess alveolar bone loss as a criteria for periodontitis. RESULTS: Twenty-nine subjects (34.9%) presented with positive DS readings. The Mantel-Haentszel common odds ratio estimate for a positive DS score and periodontitis (> 30% of teeth with distance CEJ-BL > or = 4.0 mm) was 38.4 (95% CI: 10.6-138.7, p < 0.0001). For nonsmokers only (n = 72) the odds ratio was 43.0 (95% CI: 16.7-1178.0, p < 0.0001). Evidence of bleeding on probing was 16% of sites both in the DS-positive and -negative subjects. Subjects with a positive DS result had significantly more teeth with clinical evidence of attachment loss > or = 5.0 mm (p < 0.001). The odds ratio of having periodontitis (CEJ-BL > or = 4.0 mm at > or = 30% of the teeth) and medical records confirmed diagnosis of either a stroke or an infarct or both was 7.8 (95% CI: 2.6-23.8, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with positive DS readings of the carotid arteries due to calcified arterial plaque are accurately detected by means of conventional PMX. The likelihood of being DS positive and having radiographic evidence of periodontitis is high. A dose-response relationship between the extent of carotid calcification and severity of periodontitis was demonstrated, supporting the hypothesis of an association between periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases.     

A 10-year retrospective study of periodontal disease progression Clinical characteristics of subjects with pronounced and minimal disease development

The present study reports on some characteristics of 2 groups of subjects, chosen from a sample of 191 dentate individuals who had been exposed to full-mouth intraoral radiographic examinations in 1975 and 1985. The 1st group, which comprised 14 subjects, had experienced pronounced loss of periodontal bone support during a 10-year period (mean longitudinal bone loss of 4.13 mm (S.D. 1.4]. The 2nd group of 14 subjects had suffered no or minimal periodontal disease progression (mean longitudinal bone gain of 0.35 mm (S.D. 0.7]. A clinical examination was performed in conjunction with the radiographic examination in 1985 and included assessment of plaque, gingivitis, bleeding on probing from the base of the pocket, probing depth and probing attachment loss. Information regarding the oral hygiene habits of the subjects as well as the amount of dental and periodontal therapy received between 1975 and 1985 was obtained through a questionnaire. The results revealed that the 14 subjects who had experienced pronounced progression of periodontal disease had more plaque and gingivitis, deeper pockets and more attachment loss than the 14 subjects with minimal periodontal disease progression. Over the 10-year period, subjects in the "high rate" group had lost a mean of 6.8 teeth (S.D. 5.0) as compared to 4.1 teeth (S.D. 4.4) in the "low rate" group. The radiographic assessments of alveolar bone loss were strongly correlated with the assessments of probing attachment loss (r = 0.80, p = 0.0001). In 92% of the tooth sites examined, the difference between the radiographic and the clinical assessment was within 2 mm.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Periodontal conditions of adult regular dental care attendants

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to examine longitudinal alterations in the periodontal conditions of regular dental care attendants, 225 randomly selected patients (age 18–65 years) at 12 community dental clinics in the county of Värmland, Sweden, were subjected to a baseline clinical and radiographic examination in 1978 and to a re-examination in 1990. During the study period, all participants received preventive and therapeutic measures according to decisions made by the dentist on duty in the clinics. The examinations involved assessments of number of remaining teeth, plaque, gingivitis, probing pocket depth, loss of probing attachment and periodontal bone height. The results showed that during the 12 years of monitoring, an average of 0.4 teeth were lost, The % of tooth sites with gingivitis was lower in 1990 (4%) than in 1978 (15%), but no major changes were found for the mean probing pocket depth. The mean probing attachment loss during the 12 years amounted to 0.5 mm. The tooth site analysis revealed that buccal sites had experienced more loss of attachment than lingual and approximal surfaces. Whereas no differences were observed between age groups with respect to longitudinal loss of attachment at lingual and approximal tooth sites, the youngest age group demonstrated more pronounced loss at buccal surfaces than older subjects. The radiographic assessments of the alveolar bone height revealed a mean longitudinal loss amounting to 0.2–0.4 mm in the various age groups. The time-lag comparison revealed less tooth mortality, lower gingivitis scores, less probing attachment loss and less periodontal bone loss in 1990 than in 1978 for subjects of the age 30–53 years, whereas the data were similar for older subjects. The improvement was the result of less breakdown at lingual and approximal sites, whereas no difference was evident for buccal surfaces.     

Prognostic factors for alveolar regeneration: bone formation at teeth and titanium implants

OBJECTIVES: There is a limited understanding of the effect of defect characteristics on alveolar bone healing. The objectives of this study were to assess the effect of alveolar bone width and space provision on bone regeneration at teeth and titanium implants, and to test the hypothesis that the regenerative potentials at teeth and implants are not significantly different. METHODS: Critical size, 5-6-mm, supra-alveolar, periodontal defects were surgically created in 10 young adult dogs. Similarly, critical size, 5-mm, supra-alveolar, peri-implant defects were created in four dogs. A space-providing expanded polytetrafluoroethylene device was implanted for guided tissue regeneration/guided bone regeneration. The animals were euthanized at 8 weeks postsurgery. Histometric analysis assessed alveolar bone regeneration (height) relative to space provision by the device and the width of the alveolar crest at the base of the defect. Statistical analysis used the linear mixed models. RESULTS: A significant correlation was found between bone width and wound area (r=0.55892, p<0.0001). Generally, bone width and wound area had statistically significant effects on the extent of bone regeneration (p<0.0005 and p<0.0001, respectively). Bone regeneration was linearly correlated with the bone width at periodontal (p<0.001) and implant (p=0.04) sites, and with the wound area at periodontal (p<0.0001) and implant (p=0.03) sites. The relationships of bone regeneration with these two variables were not significantly different between teeth and implants (bone width: p=0.83; wound area: p=0.09). When adjusted for wound area, bone regeneration was significantly greater at periodontal than at implant sites (p=0.047). CONCLUSIONS: The horizontal dimension of the alveolar bone influences space provision. Space provision and horizontal dimension of the alveolar bone appear to be important determinants of bone regeneration at teeth and implants. The extent of alveolar bone formation at implant sites is limited compared with that at periodontal sites.     

Alveolar Bone Loss Associated With Age‐Related Macular Degeneration in Males

Background : The aim of this study is to examine the relationship of selected systemic and oral health parameters and the salivary presence of six periodontal pathogens to age‐related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: The present cross‐sectional study includes data on 1,751 individuals (≥30 years old). General health information was obtained by questionnaires and interviews, including self‐reported diagnosis of AMD, as well as by the general and oral health examination, including panoramic radiography and laboratory analyses. Fifty‐four individuals with degenerative fundus changes formed the AMD group, and the other 1,697 formed the non‐AMD group. Pearson χ² and analysis of variance tests were used for comparisons of categorical parameters and continuous parameters between the participant groups, respectively. A logistic regression analysis was performed to study the association of AMD with alveolar bone loss and the number of teeth by controlling for age, diabetic status, systolic blood pressure, education, and smoking, and also for the carriage of salivary bacteria. Results: Advanced age, systolic blood pressure, and diabetes were associated with AMD (P <0.001), whereas the carriage rates of the examined periodontal pathogens were not. In the whole study population, the participants with AMD had fewer teeth (P <0.001) and more alveolar bone loss (P = 0.004) compared with non‐AMD participants. In a logistic regression model adjusted for age, smoking, and diabetes, alveolar bone loss was associated with AMD in males with an odds ratio of 4.3 (95% confidence interval = 1.3 to 14.6, P = 0.013). Conclusion: In this population‐based health survey, alveolar bone loss is independently associated with AMD in males.     

Retrospective study of teeth with a poor prognosis following non-surgical periodontal treatment

Aim: The aim of this retrospective study was to assess teeth with a poor prognosis and the proximal periodontium of adjacent teeth, and to identify the risk factors associated with the loss of teeth with a poor prognosis following non-surgical periodontal treatment.
Material and Methods: Teeth with a poor prognosis ( n =113), teeth adjacent to those of poor prognosis ( n =105) and non-adjacent teeth ( n =51) were evaluated in 25 non-smoking patients who had received supportive periodontal treatment for 5–16 years following non-surgical periodontal treatment at a university hospital.
Results: Probing pocket depth (PPD), percentage of alveolar bone loss, presence of tooth mobility and bleeding on probing in all teeth improved significantly after treatment. Logistic regression analysis showed that loss of teeth with a poor prognosis depended on the initial deepest PPD, tooth mobility and multi-rooted tooth.
Conclusions: Teeth with a poor prognosis did not affect the proximal periodontium of the adjacent teeth, and progression of periodontal disease in these teeth and adjacent teeth can be prevented by non-surgical periodontal treatment in non-smokers. The risk factors for loss of teeth with a poor prognosis were the initial deepest PPD, tooth mobility and multi-rooted tooth.     

A 10–year retrospective study of periodontal disease progression

The purpose of this study was to record the rate of periodontal disease progression over a 10-year period with respect to individual subject, age and tooth type. 283 subjects, who had undergone a full-mouth radiographic examination in 1974-76 and at that time were 25-70 years old, were randomly selected from a larger patient sample for a new radiographic examination in 1985-86. 201 subjects (71%) agreed to participate. For each respondent, tooth loss over the 10-year period was calculated. The radiographic bone height at the mesial and distal aspect of all teeth was assessed by measuring the distance between the cemento-enamel junction and the bone crest. Difference in periodontal bone height between the 2 examinations was calculated for each tooth site. The results revealed that the mean number of teeth lost over the 10-year period was 3.8 (SD 4.6). Tooth mortality, expressed as a % of the no. of teeth present at the initial examination, increased with age and varied between 2.9%-28.5%. In all age groups, molars had the highest and canines the lowest rate of tooth mortality. The frequency of subjects with loss of greater than 10 teeth was highest for the initially 45-year old individuals (20%). 7 individuals (3%) had become edentulous. The mean annual reduction of alveolar bone height varied between 0.07-0.14 mm in the age groups 25-65 years. The initially 70-year old subjects showed a statistically significant higher annual rate of bone loss (0.28 mm).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Periodontal status in relation to age and tooth type

The purpose of the present study was to assess by radiographic means the pattern of destructive periodontal disease within the dentition of individuals of different ages. Full-mouth series of intra-oral radiographs from 531 dentate individuals aged 25-75 years were examined with respect to number and type of remaining teeth, location of the alveolar bone in relation to the cemento-enamel junction and presence of angular bony defects. The assessments of alveolar bone levels and angular bony defects were performed at the approximal surfaces of all teeth present. The results showed that although most individuals had experienced a reduction in alveolar bone height with age, only a small number of subjects had developed advanced breakdown of the periodontium. Hence, pronounced bone loss was observed in only 11% of the subjects and was non-existent in ages below 35 years. 23% of the individuals accounted for 3/4 of the total number of sites with bone level values (bone loss) of greater than or equal to 6 mm. Out of the total number of tooth sites examined, 28% showed no bone loss, while 13% demonstrated pronounced periodontal tissue breakdown. Angular bony defects were found at 8% of all teeth examined and were most frequent at the maxillary first premolars. Teeth in the incisor regions consistently showed the highest frequency of advanced alveolar bone loss and the lowest frequency of normal tissue support, while corresponding figures for teeth in the molar regions were found to be the opposite. However, molars were the most frequently missing teeth.     

Peri-implant health around screw-shaped c.p. titanium machined implants in partially edentulous patients with or without ongoing periodontitis

Abstract: The relationship between periodontitis and peri‐implantitis remains a matter of debate. The present study compared, “within” randomly chosen partially edentulous patients (n=84 subjects, 97 jaws), the marginal bone loss around teeth and implants during 5 years (range 3 to 11 years) following the first year of bone remodelling. The patients had all been rehabilitated by means of screw‐shape c.p. titanium implants with a machined surface (Brånemark system^®). During the 5 years observation interval, periodontal parameters (marginal bone and attachment loss, the latter for teeth only) were collected together with data on confounding factors (smoking, oral hygiene, tooth loss). Marginal bone loss was measured through long‐cone intra‐oral radiographs. The mean “interval” bone loss was significantly (P=0.0001) higher around teeth (0.48±0.95 mm) than around implants (0.09±0.28 mm). The corresponding data for the “worst” performing tooth (0.99±1.25 mm) and implant (0.19±0.32 mm) per subject showed the same tendency. Neither attachment nor bone loss around teeth correlated with marginal bone loss around implants. This study indicated that the rate of bone loss around screw‐shape c.p. titanium implants with a machined surface (Brånemark system^® implants) was not influenced by the progression rate of periodontal destruction around the remaining teeth within the same jaw.     

Association between type 1 and type 2 diabetes with periodontal disease and tooth loss

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether both type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are associated with increased prevalence and extent of periodontal disease and tooth loss compared with non-diabetic subjects within a homogeneous adult study population.
Material and Methods: T1DM, T2DM and non-diabetic subjects were recruited from the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania. Additionally, T1DM subjects were retrieved from a Diabetes Centre. The total study population comprised 145 T1DM and 2647 non-diabetic subjects aged 20–59 years, and 182 T2DM and 1314 non-diabetic subjects aged 50–81 years. Periodontal disease was assessed by attachment loss (AL) and the number of missing teeth.
Results: Multivariable regression revealed an association between T1DM ( p <0.001) and T2DM ( p <0.01) with mean AL after full adjustment. After age stratification ( p =0.04 for interaction), the effect of T2DM was only statistically significant in the 60–69-year-old subjects (B=0.90 (95% confidence intervals [95% CI]; 0.49, 1.31). T1DM was positively associated with tooth loss (adjusted, p <0.001). The association between T2DM and tooth loss was statistically significant only for females (odds ratios=1.60 [95% CI: 1.10, 2.33]).
Conclusions: Our study confirmed an association between both T1DM and T2DM with periodontitis and tooth loss. Therefore, oral health education should be promoted in diabetic subjects.     

Bone dehiscence formation during orthodontic tooth movement through atrophic alveolar ridges

ObjectivesTo test the null hypothesis that there is no difference in bone dehiscence formation before and after orthodontic tooth movement through an atrophic alveolar ridge.Material and MethodsThis longitudinal retrospective study evaluated pretreatment and posttreatment cone-beam computed tomography imaging of 15 adult patients. Twenty-five teeth were moved through the atrophic alveolar bone, whereas 25 teeth not subjected to translational movement were considered controls. The distances between the cementoenamel junction and the alveolar bone crest were assessed at the mesial, distal, buccal, and lingual surfaces of all of these teeth. Data were compared using the Wilcoxon test. The Spearman correlation test and multivariate linear regression analysis were also performed.ResultsIn general, crestal bone height was reduced around 0.5 mm in all groups in every direction. Median buccal dehiscence increased significantly (+2.25 mm) (P < .05) in teeth moved through the atrophic ridge. Control teeth also had buccal crest loss (+0.83 mm), but this was not statistically different from that of the experimental teeth. Lingual dehiscence increased significantly for the experimental (+0.17 mm) and control (+0.65 mm) groups. Mesial bone height decreased more in the control group (–0.44mm) than in the experimental group (–0.14mm). There was moderate correlation between amount of tooth movement and alveolar bone loss.ConclusionsThe null hypothesis was rejected as dehiscence increased after tooth movement through an atrophic alveolar ridge, mainly in the buccal plate.     

Low concentration alcohol intake may inhibit spontaneous alveolar bone loss in Wistar rats

Objective

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of ethanol in low concentration (5%) in ligature-induced alveolar bone loss in Wistar rats.

Material and Methods

Thirty rats were randomly assigned to test and control groups (n = 15). Test group received a liquid diet containing ethanol 5% (vol./vol.) and standard rat chow. Control group received only tap water as the liquid diet and the same rat chow. In both groups, diet was delivered ad libitum. Alveolar bone loss was induced prior to the beginning of the study by means of ligatures placed around the upper second molars. The contra-lateral tooth remained as intra-group control. At the end of the nine weeks, the animals were killed and morphometric analysis of alveolar bone loss was performed by a blinded and calibrated examiner. Intra-group comparisons were performed by paired sample T-test and inter-group differences were compared by independent sample T-test (α = .05).

Results

Animals that drank ethanol in low concentration systematically presented less alveolar bone loss than the control group, regardless of the presence of ligature. Test group showed less alveolar bone loss (p = 0.04) in unligated teeth when compared to control group (0.32 ± 0.07 and 0.37 ± 0.07 mm, respectively). However, no significant difference (p = 0.14) was observed between Test and Control groups (0.78 ± 0.14 and 0.84 ± 0.18 mm, respectively) in ligated teeth.

Conclusion

The results of this study lead to the conclusion that low concentration alcohol intake did not affect the alveolar bone loss in ligature induced periodontal breakdown.     

Heritability of alveolar bone loss from periodontal disease in a baboon population: a pilot study

Background: Reports from studies of twins, disease aggregation in families, animal models for periodontal disease, and various genetic‐analysis studies have determined that genetics plays a role in the susceptibility to periodontal disease. The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate the effect of genetics on periodontal disease by evaluating the heritability of alveolar bone loss in a captive baboon population. Methods: A collection of baboon skulls from a pedigreed colony (for which scientists and veterinarians maintain complete genealogic and veterinary records) was obtained from the Southwest National Primate Research Center, San Antonio, Texas and used in this pilot study. Measurements of alveolar bone loss were performed on 390 dry baboon skulls. A periodontal probe was used to measure alveolar bone loss. Maximum likelihood methods (designed to handle complex genealogies) were used to determine the heritability of alveolar bone loss. This software used known pedigrees in the captive baboon sample and tested the relationship between pairwise kinship and alveolar bone loss data to determine the heritability of alveolar bone loss from periodontal disease. Results: Genetic data were available for 347 of the 390 specimens. Using age and sex as covariates, genetic analysis indicated a heritability of 35% (standard error = 20%; P = 0.01). Although gender was not a significant factor in periodontal disease (P = 0.96), age was highly significantly associated with periodontal disease (P <0.0001). Conclusions: In this pilot study, analysis of alveolar bone loss measurements from captive baboons indicates that bone loss increases with age and that a portion of periodontal disease risk may be caused by genetic variance. These findings provide evidence that periodontal disease is heritable in captive baboons and indicate that a larger, more‐detailed study is warranted.     

Considerations on the contribution of ageing to loss of periodontal tissue support

The present study is an attempt to assess if age-related changes, manifested as loss of probing attachment and alveolar bone, occur in humans. 511 subjects, in ages 20-24, 30-34, 40-44, 50-54 and 60-64 years, were included in the study. All subjects had undergone a comprehensive clinical examination, including recordings of probing pocket depth and probing attachment level. A subsample of subjects was selected, whose periodontal status indicated minimal experience of destructive periodontal disease. In these particular subjects, the height of the alveolar bone was also assessed. The results showed that in the subsample, (i) attachment loss increased with age, but (ii) a high proportion of tooth surfaces remained with no attachment or alveolar bone loss in ages between 20 and 64 years. There are reasons to suggest, therefore, that age-related alterations in the periodontium may not inevitably be manifested as loss of probing attachment or alveolar bone.     

Accelerated alveolar bone loss in mice lacking interleukin-10: late onset

OBJECTIVE AND BACKGROUND: Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine regulating immune responses. We have previously reported that IL-10(-/-) mice experience accelerated alveolar bone loss. The purpose of the present study was to examine the timing of the manifestation of accelerated alveolar bone loss in IL-10(-/-) mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four IL-10(-/-) and 21 IL-10(+/+) age-matched male 129/SvEv mice were used. Sacrifice times occurred at 1, 3 and 9.5 months of age. Alveolar bone loss was determined morphometrically on defleshed jaws. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for determination of serum concentration of type I collagen C-telopeptide, a systemic marker of bone resorption. RESULTS: Alveolar bone loss for the entire IL-10(-/-) group was significantly different than for the IL-10(+/+) group (p = 0.025). There was no significant difference in alveolar bone loss between IL-10(-/-) and IL-10(+/+) mice at 1 and 3 months of age. At 9.5 months of age, IL-10(-/-) mice exhibited 39% greater alveolar bone loss than IL-10(+/+) mice (p = 0.018). For IL-10(-/-) mice, alveolar bone loss significantly increased with age. Serum C-telopeptide levels significantly decreased with age in both groups. IL-10(-/-) mice had consistently higher C-telopeptide levels than IL-10(+/+) mice and the difference between the two groups reached statistical significance (p = 0.011) for the 9.5-month-old mice. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the accelerated alveolar bone loss observed in IL-10(-/-) mice is a late-onset condition and that lack of IL-10 may have an effect on bone homeostasis.