Skeletal and mandibular bone mineral density in dentate and edentulous postmenopausal women

Tooth loss is one of risk factors for osteoporosis. Reversibly osteoporotic condition is one of putative risk factors for tooth loss. The balance of bone remodeling in jawbone shift to absorption in systemically osteoporotic individuals and result in enhancement of tooth loss. The presence of tooth and skeletal and mandibular bone metabolism may relate to one another. We investigated the relationship between the presence of the tooth and skeletal and mandibular bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women. Periodontally healthy and edentulous subjects participated in this study. BMD of the lumbar spine and mandibular bone was determined. The results suggest that the presence of tooth contribute to maintain the BMD of mandibular cortical bone in postmenopausal women. Direct masticatory forces via natural teeth may influence the mandibular cortical bone metabolism and if tooth loss occurs, the bone metabolism may be regulated similar to other skeletal bone.