Cervical thickness of the mandibular alveolar process and skeletal bone mineral density

Much effort has been devoted to finding methods for detecting individuals w ith low bone mass and risk of osteoporotic fractures. The aim of the presen t study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between the thic kness of the alveolar process and the bone mineral density (BMD) of the dis tal forearm. In 24 women (38-65 years), the BMD of the distal forearm, obta ined by dual X-ray absorptiometry, was correlated to the difference between two measures of the thickness of the mandibular alveolar process in the re gion of the first premolar. A highly significant correlation (r 0.95, P < 0 .001) was found. The method was cross-validated by using the equation obtai ned from the linear regression analysis above to predict BMD in two other g roups. In both groups, the correlation betweeen the measured BMD of the for earm and the predicted BMD was highly significant (r = 0.91, P < 0.001). Th e interdental thickness between the canine and the second incisor was also correlated to BRID, but with lower predictive value (r 0.67, P < 0.001). Me asurements of the mandibular alveolar process can be used as one of several parameters to predict skeletal bone density.