The relationship between systemic osteoporosis and dentinal tubule diamater: A QUS and SEM study

Abstract

Aims: This study was designed to examine the relationship between systemic osteoporosis and dentinal tubule diameter and to determine the morphometric changes in dentinal tubules associated with osteoporosis. Material and Methods: Osteoporosis was evaluated and diagnosed by quantitative ultrasound (QUS) and osteoporosis T-scores. The T-score threshold established by World Health Organization Study Group (-2.5) was adopted for this study to diagnose osteoporosis. Healthy, un-restored premolar teeth extracted from adult patients for various medical indications were studied. The total number of participants was 45 (23 female, 22 male). The mean age was 58.25 yr. Group 1 consisted of 23 non-osteoporotic patients (11 female, 12 male) with a T-score greater than - 2.5 (mean age, 58.27 yr). The average T-score for this group was -0.9609±1.1630. Group 2 consisted of 22 patients (12 female, 10 male) with a T-score equal to or lower than -2.5 (mean age, 58.26 yr). The average T-score for Group 2 was -3.0591±0.4113. Results: SEM examinations were performed in coronary dentin near cervical region (lower third) and in sections adjacent to pulp. The average diameters for dentin tubules were 2.3813±0.3809 μm and 3.0695±0.3260 μm for Group 1 (non-osteoporotic patients) and Group 2 (osteoporotic patients), respectively. The difference was statistically significant (p<0.01). Conclusions: Our results suggest that the diameter of dentin tubule is higher in osteoporotic patients. As a consequence of this observation, the rate of progression of dental decays and losses are expected to increase in osteoporotic patients.