Bone mineral content and bone metabolism in young adults with severe periodontitis

Objectives: To clarify in young adults with severe periodontitis (1) whethe r the bone mineral content (BMC) or density (BMD) in the mandible/other ske letal sites and the systemic bone metabolism differed from normal and (2) w hether mandibular/forearm BMC did change during the 5 to 10-year follow-up. Material and Methods: 24 young otherwise normal patients with verified seve re periodontitis were included, of which 20 attended the follow-up visit. M andibular/forearm BMC was measured at both visits by dual-photon absorptiom etry, supplemented with femoral neck/lumbar spine BMD measurements at follo w-up visit by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Serum alkaline phosphatase/ ionized calcium, urinary excretion of pyridinoline/deoxy-pyridinoline were analysed at the follow-up visit. A conventional periodontal examination was performed at both visits. Results: Mandibular BMC was significantly below normal mean BMC at both vis its. The mandibular Z-scores were less than or equal to -2.00 in 33.3% (8/2 4). BMC/BMD in the remaining sites and the values for bone markers did not differ from normal. Mandibular/forearm BMC was stable while a significant a ggravation of alveolar bone loss occurred during the trial without change o f probing depth. Conclusions: Severe periodontitis in young adults seems to be a local disor der associated with relatively low BMC in the jaws without systemic alterat ions of BMC/BMD and bone metabolism.