Osteoporosis and periodontal disease: a review

A review of the literature on the relationship between osteoporosis and periodontal disease is presented. Osteoporosis, a metabolic disease, and periodontal disease, which is infectious, are both major health problems with multifactorial etiologies. There is histologic and radiographic evidence from animals and humans that osteoporosis does affect alveolar bone by decreasing bone mass and trabeculation. The literature reviewed in this paper suggests, but does not yet provide conclusive evidence for, a direct relationship between osteoporosis and periodontal disease.