The Relationship between Mandibular Cortical width and Age in Elderly Indonesian Women

As the elderly population increases, so does the incidence of osteoporosis in the world. According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, one in four women over the age of 50 is at risk of osteoporosis, leading to fracture. In its early stage, osteoporosis has no specific symptoms and is often ignored as a result. Currently, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry is considered the gold standard for osteoporosis detection, but it is expensive in Indonesia, and its availability is limited. Thus, a new, alternative early detection tool for osteoporosis risk is being developed by measuring the mandibular cortical width (MCW) on panoramic radiographs. To compare between the mean of MCW in women aged 31–45 years and 46–75 years. This study utilizes 270 digital panoramic radiographs of women aged 31–75 years from the Dental Hospital, Universitas Indonesia. MCW was measured using radiography software with 2x magnification of the region of interest. Average and standard deviation in women aged 31–45 years are 3.40±0.42 mm; 46–60 years 3.18±0.47 mm; and 61–75 years 2.76±0.66 mm. The mean of MCW between each age group is statistically different (p<0.05) and decreases with age. The mean of MCW in women aged 31–45 years is significantly different from women aged 46–75.