Trabecular bone mineral density of mandible and alveolar height in postmenopausal women.

Mineral density of the trabecular bone of the mandible was determined by single-energy QCT (quantitative computed tomography) for 74 totally or nearly edentulous menopausal women. These results were compared with the bone mineral densities (BMD) of their lumbar area (L2-L4) and femoral collum, measured by dual-energy x-ray transmission, Lunar DPX. The remaining height of the residual ridge at the symphysis of the mandible was measured on computed tomography (CT) lateral projection view, and an index of the residual ridge status was introduced. To determine whether general osteoporosis status affects the remaining height of the residual ridges, we compared these values with all results for bone mineral density. The BMD of the lumbar area and that of the femoral collum correlated well with each other, but the BMD of the trabecular bone of the mandible did not correlate with either of the other two BMD measurements. Measurements of residual ridge height did not correlate with any BMD values. The effect of possible bone loss earlier in life is no longer apparent in mandibular height or trabecular BMD over 20 yr after tooth extractions.