THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN 2 INDEXES OF MANDIBULAR BONE QUALITY AND BONE-MINERAL DENSITY MEASURED BY DUAL-ENERGY X-RAY ABSORPTIOMETRY

Objectives: To establish whether a relationship exists between the bon e quality index (BQI), the mandibular cortical index (MCI) and bone mi neral density (BMD) of the body of the mandible as measured by dual en ergy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Methods: Mandibular DXA and panoramic radiography were performed on 40 edentulous female patients, Mandibul ar body BMD was calculated by manual analysis of DXA scans. Panoramic radiographic appearances of the mandibles were assessed according to t he BQI and MCI. All assessments were performed by two observers, Resul ts: There were significant correlations between BQI and BMD (P < 0.01 for both observers) and between MCI and BMD (P < 0.005), but MCI was t he more dominant of the two variables. Inter-observer agreement betwee n BQI assessments was superior to that between MCI assessments, There were marked differences between intra-observer agreement for the two o bservers for both indices, Conclusions: Both BQI and MCI are significa ntly related to BMD. However, particularly in the case of MCI, there w ere problems in repeatability of assessments which might limit their u se in clinical practice.