The evaluation of the mandibular bone structure changes related to lactation with fractal analysis

Lactation-induced bone loss of lumbar spine, hip, femur and distal radius are well documented in the literature. The aim of this article is to investigate whether lactation affects the trabecular and cortical bone structure of human mandible.

120 dental panoramic radiographs (DPR) of the lactating women who were breastfeeding for 3-6 months (study group) and 120 DPRs of the nulliparous women (control group) were evaluated. Regions of interest (ROI) were chosen from the geometric center of ramus, the geometric center of angulus and the cortical bone. ROIs were examined with fractal analysis method. Fractal dimension (FD) values of each ROI were compared with each other. In addition, the study group was divided into four subgroups according to age, and FD values were compared within the subgroups.

The control and study groups were age-matched. FD values of mandibular ramus and angulus were significantly lower in the study group (p < 0.001, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference for FD values of cortical bone between the groups.(p = 1.49). There was no significant difference for FD values of ROIs between the age subgroups (p = 0.05, p = 0.94, p = 0.91).

This is the first study to investigate the possible effect of lactation in human jaws. Trabecular rich sites of the mandible were found affected by lactation. Dentists who encounter with lactating patients must be careful during the dental processes such as tooth extraction, implant surgery, and orthodontic treatment.