Alveolar Bone Height and Postcranial Bone Mineral Density: Negative Effects of Cigarette Smoking and Parity

• Published in: Journal of periodontology (1970) 2000-05, Vol.71 (5), p.683-689
• Main Authors: Hildebolt, Charles F., Pilgram, Thomas K., Yokoyama‐Crothers, Naoko, Vannier, Michael W., Dotson, Mary, Muckerman, Jane, Hauser, Jay, Cohen, Sheldon, Eugenia Kardaris, E., Hanes, Philip, Shrout, Michael K., Civitelli, Roberto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorptiometry, Photon; Age Factors; Alveolar bone; Alveolar Bone Loss - diagnostic imaging; Alveolar Bone Loss - etiology; Alveolar Bone Loss - physiopathology; bone density; Bone Density - physiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dentistry; Diet; Female; Humans; Hysterectomy; Least-Squares Analysis; Lumbar Vertebrae - diagnostic imaging; Lumbar Vertebrae - physiology; Middle Aged; osteoporosis, postmenopausal; Ovariectomy; Parity - physiology; Postmenopause - physiology; pregnancy (parity); Radiography, Bitewing; Regression Analysis; Risk Factors; Smoking - adverse effects; Tooth Cervix - diagnostic imaging; Tooth Cervix - physiology
• ISSN: 0022-3492; 1943-3670
• DOI: 10.1902/jop.2000.71.5.683

Background: Our objective was to test the association between cemento‐enamel junction, alveolar‐crest distance (CEJ‐AC, as measured on digitized vertical bite‐wing radiographs) and postcranial bone mineral density (BMD) relative to clinical, dietary, and demographic variables. Methods: Data were collected in a cross‐sectional study of 134 postmenopausal women. CEJ‐AC distances were determined from digitized vertical bite‐wing radiographs. Lumbar spine and proximal femur BMDs were determined from dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometric scans. Correlation analysis and Student t tests were used to identify those variables most associated with CEJAC distance. The selected variables were modeled with a backward stepwise regression analysis, with CEJ‐AC distance as the dependent variable. Results: Parity (number of pregnancies to term), cigarette smoking, and the interaction of lateral spine BMD with cigarette smoking were independent predictors of CEJ‐AC distance (P ≤0.05). Statistical models containing these variables accounted for 19% of the variation in CEJ‐AC distances. Conclusions: CEJ‐AC distance in postmenopausal women is the result of a complicated interaction of many effects, including but not limited to, parity, cigarette smoking, and skeletal BMD. J Periodontol 2000;71:683–689.