Background: Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease that leads to alveolar bone loss. Severe osteoporosis could be suspected as being an aggravating factor in the case of periodontal destruction. Osteoporosis is particularly high in postmenopausal women. Panoramic radiographs are usually advised to detect periodontal diseases and can be used to predict low bone mineral density.
Aims and Objectives: To identify the role of osteoporosis in periodontal disease progression using panoramic radiographs.
Materials and methods: The study population consisted of 80 female participants equally divided as group I—premenopausal women with chronic periodontitis, group II—premenopausal women with healthy periodontium, group III—postmenopausal women with chronic periodontitis, and group IV—postmenopausal women with healthy periodontium. Clinical parameters, viz. plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depth, and clinical attachment level, were recorded, and to record the mental index (MI), panoramic mandibular index (PMI), and mandibular cortical index (MCI) scores, panoramic radiographs were used.
Results: In all the groups, MI was observed to be varied with significant differences observed in group I and group II (p = 0.06), while the differences were highly significant in group III and group IV (p = 0.0039) and group I and group III (p = 0.0039). There were minimal differences in the mean PMI among the groups, but these differences were nonsignificant (p >0.05). MCI evaluation showed a greater prevalence of C2 and C3 patterns among postmenopausal women.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that bone density is reduced in postmenopausal women putting them at a greater risk of periodontitis and osteoporosis.