Periodontal attachment loss and bone mineral density in elderly patients

Osteoporosis and periodontitis are two independent diseases. These two diseases are related to both damage bone and tissue, and common risk factor older age. This study was to analyze the relationship of periodontal attachment loss and bone mineral density in elderly patients. A cross-sectional study in 62 elderly patients 50-62 years old, conducted in Dental Hospital, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta. Clinical attachment loss (CAL) were measured by using periodontal probe in six sites on each tooth except the third molar, than it classified into moderate (3-4mm CAL) and severe (≤5mm of CAL). Bone ultra sonometer was used to measure bone mineral density (BMD) of calcaneus bone. BMD values were expressed as a T-score. Twenty-one male and 41 female subjects were participated in this research. There were seven subjects (11.3%) of moderate CAL and 55 subjects (88.7%) of severe CAL. The BMD measurement were eight normal subjects (12.9%); 42 osteopenia subjects (67.7%), and 12 osteoporosis subjects (19.4%). The data were analyzed with Fisher's Exact Test. There was a significant relationship (p<0.05) between gender with BMD, and no significant association between periodontal attachment loss with BMD in elderly patients, but there is a tendency of osteopenia on subjects with severe periodontal attachment loss.