INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis is a systemic disease characterized by decreased bone mass and increased bone fragility. Dental radiographs
are widely used in the adult population especially Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) that is used in oral and maxillofacial surgery
for numerous clinical applications. Therefore, dental radiographs may offer an opportunity as a screening tool for the early detection of
osteoporosis and subsequent referral.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of mandibular CBCT images for the detection of osteoporosis
in postmenopausal women and to correlate it to Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan results.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: twenty four postmenopausal female patients were recruited in this study. Based on their DEXA results,
they were classified into osteoporotic and control non-osteoporotic groups. CBCT examination was done as part of surgical treatment. Coronal
images were used to measure the computed tomography mandibular index (CTMI) and the computed tomography index (superior) (CTIS).The
correlation between these indices and bone mineral density (BMD) measured by DEXA were assessed.
RESULTS: There were significant differences between the control and osteoporotic groups in the computed tomography mandibular index
superior CTI(S), and computed tomography mental index (CTMI: inferior cortical width).There was significant positive correlation between
CTMI and T-score measured by DEXA.
CONCLUSIONS: CTI(S) and CTMI on the CBCT images can be used to assess the osteoporotic women.