The strength of association between systemic postmenopausal osteoporosis and periodontal disease

This cross-sectional study examined the strength of association between systemic osteoporosis and periodontal status in postmenopausal non-Hispanic white women. Twenty subjects with low bone density and a spine bone density of 0.753 +/- 0.039 dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry units (g/cm(2)) and 22 subjects with high bone density and a spine bone density of 1.032 +/- 0.028 dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry units (g/cm(2)) were randomly selected from a cohort of 565 women. Periodontal assessment included Plaque Index, Gingival Index, pocket depth, gingival recession, and periodontal attachment level. There were no significant differences in Plaque Index, Gingival Index, and probing depth in both groups; however, there were significant differences in gingival recession components of periodontal attachment level in both groups. This study suggests that systemic osteoporosis may contribute to periodontal attachment loss in the form of gingival recession.