[Osteoporosis: a risk factor for periodontal disease (literature review)]

Osteoporosis is a major public health problem all over the world. Caucasian women have the highest risk. Osteoporosis affects about 10% of the total population but the prevalence among postmenopausal women is more than 30%. It had long been stated that general osteoporosis played no role in the etiology of destructive periodontitis with inflammatory nature. Nevertheless a substantial number of publications in recent years indicated just an opposite relationship. It has been shown that total body calcium and bone density was closely associated with mandibular bone density and several studies have demonstrated close relationship between edentulism and systemic osteopenia. Certain data showed clear relationship between osteoporosis and periodontal disease, and osteoporosis is considered as one of the risk factors for periodontal bone loss. Both osteoporosis and periodontal disease are chronic multifactorial diseases with many genetic and behavioral risk factors and determinants. Both diseases can be successfully controlled by eliminating several risk factors. Estrogen replacement therapy can be protective against both postmenopausal osteoporosis and severe periodontitis in postmenopausal women. Tobacco smoking and diet are also important risk factors for both diseases and genetic factors have also been identified as important risk factors in the etiology of both diseases. Recent epidemiological and clinical data provides limited but convincing evidence suggesting an association between osteoporosis and periodontal disease, and many common risk factors could have been detected in the etiology of both diseases.