This study aimed to identify whether healthy older adults are at a high risk of osteoporosis based on the association between the T-score values of bone mineral density (BMD) and three panoramic indices. All participants (50–64 years old) underwent calcaneal quantitative ultrasound (QUS) bone densitometry. In total, 371 panoramic images were included in the analysis. The mandibular cortical width (MCW), mandibular cortical index (MCI), and panoramic mandibular index (PMI) were the three parameters assessed. The data were examined using one-way analysis of variance or Kruskal–Wallis H and post hoc tests. Spearman’s rho was used to measure correlation coefficients. T-score distributions in the normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis categories were 80 (21.6%), 236 (63.6%), and 55 (14.8%), respectively. T-scores were significantly related to age, MCW, PMI, and MCI (p < 0.001). Participants with osteopenia and a risk of progression to osteoporosis had an average MCW value of < 3.38 mm, a PMI of < 0.31, and an MCI class 2 and 3 distribution in 211 (56.9%) participants. The highest to lowest correlation coefficients with a significant relationship to the T-score were for age (r = -0.844), MCI (r = 0.456), MCW (r = 0.359), sex (r = 0.354), and PMI value (r = 0.292). This study found that healthy older people with Class 3 MCI, an MCW < 3 mm, and a PMI ratio < 0.3 had a significant association with lower BMD T-scores on QUS and were at higher risk of osteoporosis.

Background/Objective: Early periodontitis diagnosis is challenging due to varying staging and grading systems. While clinical parameters like bleeding on probing (BoP) and pocket depth (PD) are commonly used, periapical radiographs provide valuable information about bone loss and periodontal ligament changes. However, a clear definition of early periodontitis, particularly regarding alveolar bone crest changes, remains elusive. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 21 participants aged 20–30 with clinical signs of periodontitis and radiographic evidence of alveolar bone changes and periodontal ligament widening. Four dentists assessed 40 cases for BoP, 40 for PD, and 40 for periapical radiographs. Results: Statistical analysis revealed that the pocket depth measurement was the most significant factor in diagnosing early periodontitis (Fisher’s exact test, p-value = 0.000). Additionally, the irregularity of the alveolar crest proved to be a significant marker compared to periodontal ligament width (Fisher’s exact test, p-value = 0.000). A Kendall Tau_b test (p-value = 0.000, r = 1.000) confirmed pocket depth to be the most influential parameter among the assessed factors. Conclusions: While this study highlights the importance of clinical and radiographic assessments in early periodontitis detection, integrating these findings into a definitive diagnosis can be complex. The standardization of diagnostic techniques and the development of advanced radiographic interpretation methods are crucial to improve accuracy. Further research is needed to refine diagnostic criteria and explore additional tests for early periodontitis detection.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between radiomorphometric indices and fractal dimension (FD) analysis in jawbone radiographic density using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT). The study included 87 CBCT datasets from dental patients aged 50–79. Four radiomorphometric indices (Computed Tomography Cortical Index (CTCI), Computed Tomography Mental Index (CTMI), Computed Tomography Index-Superior (CTI-S), and Computed Tomography Index-Inferior (CTI-I)) along with age, gender, remaining teeth, and mandibular bone height were evaluated. FD was assessed in trabecular bone near the mental foramen (ROI 1) and on the mandibular cortical bone (ROI 2). Relationships between indices and variables were analyzed using Pearson chi-square, Fisher’s exact, one-way ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis, and Spearman’s rho tests. ANOVA showed significant differences in mandibular bone height (p = .004) and FD at ROI 2 (p = .000) across three mandibular cortex types (C1, C2, C3). Spearman’s rho indicated significant correlations between FD at ROI 2 and CTMI, CTI-S, CTI-I (p = .000), and between mandibular bone height and CTMI (p = .010). The correlations of FD at ROI 2 ranged from strongest to weakest with CTCI, CTMI, CTI-S, and CTI-I. High-risk osteoporosis radiomorphometric indices are associated with FD analysis of cortical bone.

The mandibular inferior cortex (MIC) classification that was determined by observing the mandible distally from the mental foramen in panoramic radiography can be considered to reflect bone loss in the jaws. The purpose of this 9-year study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between MIC condition and total serum calcium (TSC) in elderly Japanese people. A total of 280 subjects aged 70 years at baseline (137 males and 143 females) took part in this longitudinal study design. TSC and dental panoramic radiographs were carried out at the baseline in 1998 and the final year in 2007. The results of the MIC measurement were divided into two groups according to changes in MIC after the 9-year study period, namely no change group and change group. A significant relationship was found in females but not in males between the MIC condition and the TSC. The regression showed that female subjects are 3.26 times more likely to have increased erosion of the inferior border of the mandible than male subjects after the 9-year study period. These results suggest that an increase in erosion of the inferior border of the mandible was significantly associated with an elevated TSC after 9 years and only in females.

Aim: This study evaluated the relationship between age, sex, and mandibular morphological changes, focusing particularly on mandibular cortical width (MCW) and mandibular cortical index (MCI), using panoramic radiography.Methods: A total of 300 panoramic radiographs were analyzed. Mandibular morphometric parameters were measured, including ramus height, maximum and minimum ramus width, gonial angle, bigonial width, condylar height, coronoid height, MCW, and MCI. Statistical analysis included Spearman's correlation, multiple regression, and logistic regression to assess the relationships between mandibular morphology, cortical width, and cortical erosion with age and sex.Results: Significant differences were observed across age and sex groups in most mandibular parameters. Men had significantly larger values for ramus height, bigonial width, and condylar height, while women showed a wider gonial angle. Age was negatively correlated with MCW (r = −0.522, p = 0.000) and positively correlated with MCI (r = 0.388, p = 0.000), indicating that cortical width decreases and cortical erosion increases with age. In the multiple regression analysis, age (B = −0.028, p = 0.000) and MCI (B = −0.391, p = 0.000) were strong negative predictors of MCW. In contrast, condylar height (B = 0.024, p = 0.007) positively influenced MCW, explaining 41.5% of the variance in cortical width (R² = 0.415). The logistic regression analysis revealed that MCW [Exp(B) = 0.157, p = 0.000], sex [Exp(B) = 2.251, p = 0.005], and age [Exp(B) = 1.062, p = 0.000] significantly predicted MCI, with thinner mandibular cortices, female sex, and older age associated with higher MCI values (severe cortical erosion). Each 1 mm decrease in MCW increased the likelihood of being in a higher MCI class by 84%.Conclusions: Women were more than twice as likely to exhibit greater cortical erosion than men. This study demonstrated that age, sex, and mandibular morphometric parameters significantly influenced MCW and erosion.