Mandible bone resorption as determined from panoramic radiographs in edentulous male individuals ages 25-80 years.

Routine panoramic radiographs of 173 healthy edentulous males, aged 25-80 years, were measured for estimated bone loss using the Wical and Swoope (1974) technique. Results using this simple technique were comparable to other studies using more sophisticated methods but did not require exposure to additional radiation. Mean ratios of height of mandible (indicative of mandibular bone loss) decreased both with age of subject and with time after extraction. Efforts should be made to determine the usefulness of such archival radiographic films for a variety of studies.