Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the reduction of human alveolar bone loss

Aspirin (ASA) and indomethacin are inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis and reduce bone resorption in tissue culture stimulated by preparations obtained from human gingival tissue. In a retrospective study, we attempted to determine whether ASA or ASA plus indomethacin exert a bone resorption inhibiting effect on human alveolar bone. Dental radiographs of 75 patients with a history of arthritis and long-term ingestion (greater than 5 years) of ASA were compared with dental radiographs of 75 healthy male volunteers from the VA Dental Longitudinal Study (DLS). Proximal bone loss was measured using a Schei Ruler graded on a 10-point scale. The data indicated that the ASA population presented with significantly fewer sites of 10% or greater mesial and distal bone loss than the healthy control population (P less than 0.05). Mean percentage bone loss for the entire dentition was also lower in the ASA group, although the difference was not statistically significant. As there is no evidence to suggest that inhibition of alveolar bone loss is a natural concomitant of the arthritic process, we conclude that the inhibition of bone loss found in this study was due to the chronic ingestion of ASA or ASA and indomethacin.