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Mandibular bone changes in 24 years and skeletal fracture prediction
G Jonasson1, V Sundh, M Hakeberg
1Research and Development Unit, Southern Älvsborg County, Sven Eriksonplatsen 4, 503 38 Borås, Sweden. grethe.jonasson@vgregion.se
Clinical Oral Investigations
|May 2, 2012
Summary
Mandibular bone structure changes with age, with sparse trabeculation and eroded cortex indicating higher fracture risk in women. Dental radiographs can identify at-risk individuals for early intervention.
Area of Science:
- Osteology
- Gerontology
- Radiology
Background:
- Mandibular bone undergoes structural changes throughout aging.
- Assessing bone quality is crucial for predicting fracture risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize age-related changes in mandibular bone structure.
- To evaluate the predictive value of cortical and trabecular bone for fracture risk.
Main Methods:
- Panoramic radiographs of 1,003 women (1968-1993) were analyzed.
- Cortical thickness and erosion were assessed.
- Trabecular pattern was categorized as sparse, mixed, or dense.
Main Results:
- Mandibular bone became more porous with age, with increased intertrabecular spaces.
- Sparse trabeculation was consistently associated with higher fracture rates (71-78%).
- Severe cortical erosion predicted fractures later in life, particularly in older cohorts.
Conclusions:
- Dental radiographs provide sufficient data to identify women at elevated risk of future fractures.
- Identifying sparse mandibular trabeculation allows dentists to flag 40-69% of women at risk, depending on age.
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