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.