Association between Periodontal Disease and Osteoporosis among Post-Menopausal Women

Aims: The present study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between systemic bone mineral density and periodontal status in postmenopausal women, and to evaluate the association between serum estrogen levels and periodontal status in osteoporotic post-menopausal women. Methodology: 200 postmenopausal women were subjected to systemic bone density measurements using the Achilles Express Densitometer, out of which 136 were enrolled for the study. Based on the systemic bone mineral density values obtained, the patients were divided into osteoporosis, osteopenia and non-osteoporosis groups. Plaque index, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment loss and tooth loss were recorded. Those patients who had bone mineral density values corresponding to the osteoporosis group were subjected to blood investigations to determine the serum estrogen, calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase levels. Results: Of the 136 women, 42 were in the osteoporosis group (30.9%), 66 were in the osteopenia group (48.5%) and 28 were in the nonosteoporosis group (20.5%). Age of the postmenopausal women, their plaque score, tooth loss, clinical attachment loss and probing pocket depth had a direct and significant association with osteoporosis. The osteopenia group was not statistically significant when compared to non-osteoporosis group with respect to the selected variables. No statistical significance between serum estrogen levels and any of the selected variables in the osteoporosis group was observed. Conclusion: The study confirms a significant direct association between osteoporosis and periodontitis among post-menopausal women.