There is no clear association between clinical attachment level and bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and proximal femur, whether examined on a cross-sectional or longitudinal basis. Patterns in the data suggest there may be a weak association in the longitudinal changes.

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.

Postcranial and oral bone mass were increased in postmenopausal women receiving H/ERT. Improvement in oral bone health constitutes an additional benefit of H/ERT.

The data of this study indicate that E/HRT and/or calcium and vitamin D may result in increases of mandibular bone mass in postmenopausal women. Because of the long-term risks associated with E/HRT, caution should be exercised in prescribing E/HRT for prevention of chronic menopausal conditions.

The MO measurements used in this study were weakly correlated with lumbar spine and femoral BMDs, with no clear trends discernible in this population of postmenopausal women with no or mild periodontal disease.