Relationships between mandibular cortical bone measures and biochemical markers of bone turnover in elderly Japanese men and women.

Objective: The aim was to clarify the association between dental panoramic radiography measures of mandibular inferior cortical shape and biochemical markers of bone turnover in elderly men and women.

Study Design: Subjects were 80-year-old men (n = 85) and women (n = 153). Mandibular cortical shape and width were evaluated on dental panoramic radiographs. Bone formation and resorption, respectively, were estimated by serum levels of carboxy-terminal propeptide of type I collagen (PICP) and serum type I collagen carboxy-terminal telopeptide (ICTP).

Results: Eroded cortices of the mandible were significantly associated with increased serum PICP levels (P = .005) in women. Lower mandibular cortical width quartiles were also significantly associated with increased serum PICP levels in men (P = .020) and women (P = .006).

Conclusions: Mandibular inferior cortical measures detected on dental panoramic radiographs may be associated with bone formation rates and be useful in predicting osteoporosis in elderly Japanese men and women.