Oral manifestations of metabolic bone disease: vitamin D and osteoporosis

Metabolic bone diseases are disorders of bone remodeling and characteristically involve the entire bony skeleton. Metabolic bone diseases exhibit their effects throughout all skeletal tissue, and very often are first diagnosed from abnormalities appearing in the oral cavity or on dental radiographs. This article presents major metabolic bone diseases that are often manifested in the oral cavity. It discusses the physiology of vitamin D and the major bone disorders associated with abnormal levels of this hormone. Osteoporosis, the most common metabolic bone disease in elderly patients, also will be discussed. With the expanding older population, osteoporosis has become a major health problem and poses special concerns for the dental practitioner.