Sex Steroids, Periodontal Health, and Tooth Loss in Older Men

Abstract

Sex steroids have a significant effect on skeletal biology in men with reduced levels being associated with lower skeletal bone mass and cortical thickness. The purpose of this study was to determine if sex steroids are associated with periodontitis and tooth loss in a cohort of 1,210 older dentate men followed for 3 years. Periodontal measures included attachment loss, pocket depth, gingival bleeding and number of teeth. Baseline serum testosterone and estradiol were measured by radioimmunoassay. Severe periodontitis was common at baseline (38%) and progression occurred in 32%. Incident tooth loss occurred in 22%. Testosterone, estradiol and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) concentrations were not related to baseline periodontal status or number of teeth. Moreover, there was no relationship between sex steroid levels and periodontitis progression or incident tooth loss. Although periodontitis, progression of periodontitis and tooth loss are common in older men, they were not associated with sex steroids.

Adaptation to acute coronary syndrome-induced stress with lowering of testosterone: a possible survival factor

“…Periodontitis is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases affecting as many as 75% of adult and elderly populations, and it eventually leads to loss of teeth. In earlier studies, the results on the association of sex steroids and periodontitis or tooth loss have been contradictory (22,23), but the subject is rarely investigated.…”

Prospective association of sex steroid concentrations with periodontal progression and incident tooth loss

“…Furthermore, gonodal steroids might have effects on skeletal biology in men (Orwoll et al. ). Serum‐free (unbound) and total (free and bound to SHBG or albumin) testosterone levels decrease with increasing age (Harman et al.…”

“…Furthermore, associations between sex steroid concentrations and periodontal health or tooth loss have been examined only in men (Orwoll et al. , Singh et al. ) but not in women.…”

Effect of the menstrual cycle on inflammatory cytokines in the periodontium

“…When stimulated with gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone, the anterior pituitary secretes luteinizing hormone and follicle‐stimulating hormone into the bloodstream, which leads to the secretion of estrogen and progesterone by the ovaries . It is known that changes in the concentrations of sex hormones during puberty are responsible for development of the menstrual cycle .…”

“…In addition, the presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors on the surface of gingival cells, osteoblasts, periodontal ligament fibroblasts and sex hormones, indicates that the saliva, oral mucosa and periodontium are influenced by changes in the concentrations of sex hormones .…”