Bone Abstracts

Background: Both osteoporosis and tooth loss are major health problems that are frequently observed in postmenopausal women. Authors in this study investigated the relationship between low bone mineral density and edentulism.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2012. A total of 2129 postmenopausal women (50–80 years), who had bone mineral density measured and had undergone dental examination. All participants had dental examination by a dentist and were examined for the number of remaining teeth, dental prosthetics, dental implants, and periodontal diseases. In addition, the participants self-reported their oral health behaviours. Multivariate logistic regression via complex sampling was used to estimate odds ratio (OR) for osteopenia and osteoporosis regarding to eight or more tooth loss.

Results: Average number of tooth loss in the participants with normal BMD was significantly lower than those with osteopenia and osteoporosis (4.5±0.4 vs 6.7±0.3 vs 10.4±0.2, P value <0.001). Women with osteoporosis in femoral neck had a higher risk for eight or more of tooth loss compared to the women with normal BMD in femoral neck (OR, 2.37; 95% CI, 1.88–2.99). Similarly, the subjects with osteoporosis in lumbar spines had a higher risk for eight or more tooth loss (OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.52–2.36) in comparison with the group with normal BMD in lumbar spines.

Conclusions: Excessive edentulism was significantly associated to low BMD in postmenopausal women. Persistent dental care is suggested to prevent tooth loss.

Practical implications: Dentists should be aware that postmenopausal women with osteopenia or osteoporosis should have regular dental examinations to prevent tooth loss.

Key Words: bone density, osteoporosis, tooth loss, postmenopausal women