Relationships between longitudinal changes in radiographic alveolar bone height and probing depth measurements: Data from postmenopausal women

Background: The relationship between loss of radiographic alveolar bone hei ght and probing attachment loss has been studied by a number of investigato rs, with mixed results. Recent studies have found weak correlations and hav e suggested that the relationship between bone loss and attachment loss is complex, perhaps because changes in bone height and attachment level are se parated in time. Methods: The 85 patients in this report were part of a prospective estrogen replacement interventional study. All patients were in good oral health at entry and received annual oral prophylaxis as part of the study. Standard probing measurements were made with a pressure-sensitive probe at 6 sites o n each tooth. Vertical bitewing radiographs were taken of each patient, rad iographs were digitized, and 6 linear measurements (corresponding to probin g site measurements) were made from the cemento-enamel junction to the alve olar crest. These procedures were performed at baseline and at annual inter vals; this study reports results after 2 years. Data were analyzed both by individual site and by averaging identical sites from all measured teeth fo r each patient. Results: Very weak direct relationships between change in alveolar bone hei ght and change in attachment level were found in both the site data (r(2)=0 .0022; P = 0.189) and the patient average data (r(2)=0.031; P = 0.104). Conclusions: The changes in these patients were probably due to systemic ch anges in bone health rather than to periodontal disease. However, the weak correlations between changes in attachment level and bone height are simila r to recent studies of periodontal disease. Our results support suggestions in the literature that the link between changes in attachment and alveolar bone height is complex, perhaps because changes in the 2 tissue types are separated by a considerable time delay.