A comparative study of relationship between osteoporosis and periodontal disease

Multiple systemic and local factors contribute to the incidence and progression of periodontal diseases. Osteoporosis is defined as changes in trabecular bone structure and probably as a systemic risk factor of periodontitis. Since both diseases are considered as major public health problems and affect numbers of adults the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between osteoporosis and periodontal disease and the role of oral hygiene in this process. In this historical cohort study, 68 patients were selected from 111 individuals for whom femoral and hip BMD (Bone Mineral Density) with DXA (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) procedure was performed and PI (Plaque Index) recorded. Cases were divided into four groups of 17 persons each as follow: osteoporotic with good oral hygiene (OH), osteoporotic with poor oral hygiene (OP) normal with good oral hygiene (NH), and normal with poor oral hygiene (NP). Clinical examinations including BOP (bleeding on probing),GR (gingival recession), PPD (probing pocket depth) and TL (tooth loss) was performed for all cases. Data were analyzed by two-way and four-way ANOVA test, with p<0.05 as the level of significance. Significant relation was observed between GR (P=0.045), and TL (P=0.050) with BMD independent of oral hygiene. Whereas such relation was not true for BOP and PPD (P=0.989). Our finding showed that osteoporosis can make patients more vulnerable to periodontal diseases by reducing trabecular bone mass and is related to gingival recession as well as tooth loss.