“Comparative Analysis of Bone Mineral Density and Alveolar Bone Loss in Pre- and Post-Menopausal Women with Chronic Periodontitis: A Cross-Sectional Study”

Abstract

Periodontitis is a long-term inflammatory disease that affects the tissues supporting the teeth. It can be worsened by conditions like osteoporosis. Post-menopausal women are more at risk due to a lack of estrogen, which speeds up bone loss and can increase periodontal bone loss. This study aims to evaluate and compare bone mineral density and alveolar bone loss in both pre- and post-menopausal women with chronic periodontitis. The study included ninety-seven women, with 40 pre-menopausal and 57 post-menopausal participants. We measured clinical parameters such as probing pocket depth and clinical attachment loss using Williams and CPI probes. We assessed alveolar bone loss with intraoral periapical radiographs and a Dentech X-ray grid. We determined bone mineral density using the SONOST-2000 ultrasound bone densitometer and analyzed the data with SPSS version 16.0, using the independent t-test.The average T-score in pre-menopausal women was -1.22 ± 0.43, compared to -1.97 ± 0.65 in post-menopausal women. The difference was statistically significant (p = 0.001). Additionally, the average alveolar bone loss was 5.28 ± 2.73 mm in pre-menopausal women and 10.21 ± 4.42 mm in post-menopausal women, showing a significant difference as well (p = 0.001). These findings indicate that menopause, along with the decrease in bone mineral density, significantly raises the risk of alveolar bone loss. The results suggest that estrogen deficiency, increased cytokines, and RANKL-driven osteoclast activation may explain this connection. The study concludes that it is crucial to screen for osteoporosis and periodontitis early in women going through menopause to manage and prevent both systemic and oral health issues effectively.