TRABECULAR BONE-MINERAL DENSITY OF MANDIBLE AND ALVEOLAR HEIGHT IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Mineral density of the trabecular bone of the mandible was determined by single-energy QCT (quantitative computed tomography) for 74 totally or nearly edentulous menopausal women. These results were compared wi th the bone mineral densities (BMD) of their lumbar area (L2-L4) and f emoral collum, measured by dual-energy x-ray transmission, Lunar DPX. The remaining height of the residual ridge at the symphysis of the man dible was measured on computed tomography (CT) lateral projection view , and an index of the residual ridge status was introduced. To determi ne whether general osteoporosis status affects the remaining height of the residual ridges, we compared these values with all results for bo ne mineral density. The BMD of the lumbar area and that of the femoral collum correlated well with each other, but the BMD of the trabecular bone of the mandible did not correlate with either of the other two B MD measurements. Measurements of residual ridge height did not correla te with any BMD values. The effect of possible bone loss earlier in li fe is no longer apparent in mandibular height or trabecular BMD over 2 0 yr after tooth extractions.