engleski

Influence of sex, age and presence of functional units on optical density and bone height of the mandible

Objectives: Mandibular bone hight and density were compared with age, sex and the number and type of dental functional units, as represented by Eichner index. Material and methods: A sample of 150 elderly (&#8805; 60 years of age) patients of the Dental Clinic were divided into three age groups, examined and their OPGs taken. The OPGs were taken with the copper stepwedge in order to enable computer-assisted calculation of mandibular optical density and calibration of dimensional measurements by specially designed software. Results:Eichner class III was found in 62% of patients. Presence of functional units is positively correlated with age (r=0.67) and bone hight values (r=0.88, p<0.05). Optical density and bone hight values of measurements performed at same locations on mandibles showed no significant correlation (r=0.24, p<0.05). Intra-subject measurement showed that eminentia piriformis region had significantly higher optical density values compared to 1st molar and mental foramen regions (p<0.05). Women had significantly lower bone hight values than men (p<0.05), but no significant sex difference was found in optical density values. Conclusions: Presence of functional units has significant influence on bone hight, but, like age or sex of the patient, it has no influence on mineral content of the mandible. Eminentia piriformis region is not succeptible to bone mineral content or hight change.

Optical bone density; bone height; functional units

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