Estimation of skeletal bone mineral density by means of the trabecular pattern of the alveolar bone, its interdental thickness, and the bone mass of the mandible

Objective. We sought to evaluate the use of the alveolar trabecular pattern , the mandibular alveolar bone mass (MABM) measured by photodensitometry, a nd the interdental alveolar thickness for prediction of the skeletal bone m ineral density (BMD). Study design. MABM and the coarseness of trabeculation were assessed by usi ng periapical radiographs in 80 dentate women. The interdental alveolar thi ckness was measured on casts, and BMD of the forearm with dual X-ray absorp tiometry. Results. Significant correlations were found between skeletal BMD and MABM (r = 0.46, P < .001) as well as the coarseness of the trabeculation (r = 0. 62, P < .001). The interdental alveolar thickness improved the correlation between skeletal BMD and MABM (R-2 = 0.44, P < .001). Age, but not interden tal thickness, improved the correlation between the coarseness of trabecula tion and skeletal BMD (R-2 = 0.52, P < .001). Conclusion. Evaluation of the coarseness of trabeculation of the alveolar b one as seen on intraoral radiographs is a helpful clinical indicator of ske letal BMD and better than densitometric measurements of the alveolar bone. Dense trabeculation is a strong indicator of high BMD, whereas sparse trabe culation may be used to predict low BMD.