The influence of bone mineral density and bisphosphonate therapy on the determinants of oral health and changes on dental panoramic radiographs in postmenopausal women

The aim of this study was to assess the determinants of oral health including the number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) and periodontal indices in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, osteoporosis treated with bisphosphonate therapy, and control group and to examine the correlation between dental panoramic indices (Mental Index-MI, Mandibular Cortical Index-MCI) and bone mineral density in these three groups of patients. The presented non-interventional study involved 120 postmenopausal women: women with osteoporosis (O) (n = 45), women with osteoporosis treated with bisphosphonates (OBP) (n = 45), and control group (C) (n = 30). DMFT, plaque, gingival and papilla bleeding index, pocket depth, clinical attachment loss, and the presence of periodontitis were evaluated for each patient. MI and MCI of all participants were measured on a dental panoramic radiograph. Group OBP showed significantly higher gingival, bleeding index and deeper pocket depth than C and/or O group. No significant differences were found in MI (p = .303) or MCI (p = .06) in all the examined groups. Also, there were no significant differences between the three groups in the presence of periodontitis as well as in the DMFT index. BP therapy could have a negative influence on periodontal health. Further, MI and MCI are not precise diagnostic tools for diagnosing low BMD in postmenopausal women. BP therapy could have a negative influence on the determinants of oral health in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.