ALVEOLAR BONE LEVELS IN AIDS AND HIV-SEROPOSITIVE PATIENTS AND IN CONTROL SUBJECTS

ALVEOLAR BONE LEVELS WERE STUDIED from intraoral radiographs of 24 non -hospitalized patients with AIDS, 17 HIV seropositive subjects, and 39 matched control subjects. The AIDS/HIV subjects were seeking dental c are in a faculty practice, The matched control subjects came from thos e non-HIV-infected patients seeking dental care at the University of W ashington. Magnified intraoral radiographs were used to assess the dis tance between the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) and the alveolar bone level (BL). The extent of vertical defects and furcation invasions was also assessed. The mean age of the AIDS, HIV, and control subjects wa s 38.9 +/- 6.6 years, 37.1 +/- 7.6, and 39.9 +/- 5.6, respectively, an d was not statistically different. Among the AIDS patients, 75% were s mokers, while 88.2% of the HIV subjects were cigarette smokers. Theref ore, the matched control subjects were also smokers to the same extent . The mean difference in distance CEJ-BL was 0.1 mm (mesial) and 0.3 m m (distal) and greater in the HIV/AIDS group than in the control group , but not statistically different. No vertical defects greater than or equal to 3.0 mm were found in 69.2% of the central subjects and in 58 .5% of the combined HIV/AIDS group. None of the HIV/AIDS subjects had more than 5 defects > 3.0 mm, while 7.6% of the control subjects had s uch defects. Significant associations were found between smoking and e xtent of alveolar bone loss (distance) (P < 0.001) as well as the numb er and extent of vertical defects (P < 0.01), but were not associated with HIV status. The extent of furcation invasions, as read radiograph ically, did not differ between groups. In conclusion, smoking but not HIV status was the primary factor fur alveolar bone loss.