Measurement of the cortical bone by panoramic radiography for the diagnosis of osteopenia and osteoporosis in women

Abstract

Study design: Prevalence study. Aim: Evaluating the prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis diagnosed by panoramic radiography through qualitative measurements of the mandibular bone cortex. Materials and methods: The Klemetti index and the Benson index were used through a digital caliper. The descriptive analysis of the date was performed in the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) V.20.0. Results: Of the fifty panoramic radiographs evaluated from women with a mean age of 43.04 years, 15 women (30%) were diagnosed with Klemetti's osteopenia, and there were no cases of osteoporosis in the sample. Regarding the Benson index, the results showed an average of 4.24 mm (SD: 0.54), with a minimum value of 3.30 and a maximum of 6.10 mm. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the importance of panoramic radiography for the early diagnosis of osteopenia and osteoporosis. Panoramic radiography presents low cost and ease of use by dental surgeons, being an exam widely used in several areas of dentistry.