Osteoporosis, jawbones and periodontal disease

Abstract

The association between osteoporosis and jawbones remains an argument of debate. Both osteoporosis and periodontal diseases are bone resorptive diseases; it has been hypothesized that osteoporosis could be a risk factor for the progression of periodontal disease and vice versa. Hypothetical models linking the two conditions exist: in particular, it is supposed that the osteoporosis-related bone mass density reduction may accelerate alveolar bone resorption caused by periodontitis, resulting in a facilitated periodontal bacteria invasion. Invading bacteria, in turn, may alter the normal homeostasis of bone tissue, increasing osteoclastic activity and reducing local and systemic bone density by both direct effects (release of toxins) and/or indirect mechanisms (release of inflammatory mediators). Current evidence provides conflicting results due to potential biases related to study design, samples size and endpoints. The aim of this article is to review and summarize the published literature on the associations between osteoporosis and different oral conditions such as bone loss in the jaws, periodontal diseases, and tooth loss. Further well-controlled studies are needed to better elucidate the inter-relationship between systemic and oral bone loss and to clarify whether dentists could usefully provide early warning for osteoporosis risk. Key words:Osteoporosis, periodontitis, oral bone loss, tooth loss, edentulism, bone mineral density.

Estrogen Deficiency-Associated Bone Loss in the Maxilla: A Methodology to Quantify the Changes in the Maxillary Intra-radicular Alveolar Bone in an Ovariectomized Rat Osteoporosis Model

“…20,21 However, some animal studies have reported positive correlation of osteoporosis and alveolar bone changes, and periodontal bone loss. 7,9,10,14 Therefore, there is a clear need to clarify the effect of estrogen deficiency on maxillary and mandibular alveolar bones. Given trabecular bone is believed to be more susceptible to be affected by estrogen deficiency than cortical bone, 22 maxillary bone, especially the porous, posterior maxillary region may be regarded as a more sensitive location for estrogen deficiency, compared with mandibular bone.…”

Type ii osteoporosis pathogenesis as a result of secondary edentulous

“…Osteoporosis may affect the jawbones 16 . In addition, these modifications might potentially speed up the periodontal tissues breakdown caused by periodontitis 17 .…”

Correlation of Serum Osteocalcin Level and Periodontal Attachment Loss With Osteoporosis Risk Status in Postmenopausal Women

“…The reduction in bone mineral density in osteoporosis alters the trabecular pattern and may lead to a more rapid jawbone resorption caused by periodontal disease, due to the invasion of periodontal pathogenic bacteria. Conversely, the invasion of periodontal pathogenic bacteria may alter the normal homeostasis of the alveolar bone, increasing the osteoclastic activity and reducing the local and systemic bone density [6]. Pepelasi et al [7] suggested that postmenopausal women with osteoporosis had greater gingival inflammation, periodontal attachment loss, and gingival recession than postmenopausal women with a normal bone mineral density (BMD).…”