Alveolar bone levels in adults as assessed on panoramic radiographs. (I) Prevalence, extent, and severity of even and angular bone loss

Abstract

There is limited information regarding the prevalence and intraoral distribution of infrabony lesions potentially suitable for regenerative procedures in common patients seeking regular dental care in a dental practice. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and extent of alveolar bone loss and infrabony defects in randomly selected orthopantomograms of adult patients in different age groups seeking treatment at the dental service of the German Armed Forces. A total of 240 panoramic exposures were available for analysis, 60 in each of the age groups <30, 30-39, 40-49, and >or=50 years of age. At each tooth, distances between the cementoenamel junction or margin of restoration and the alveolar crest as well as the bone level were measured with a calliper to the next 0.1 mm. Whereas virtually no bone loss was present in the youngest age group, a major change in bone level frequency distributions occurred after age 30 years. At age 50 years, about 50% of subjects had considerable bone loss of more than 4 mm at 10% or more sites, and 6 mm or more at about 5% sites. Deep infrabony defects were infrequently found before age 40 years. About 20% of patients at least 50 years of age had radiographic evidence of infrabony pockets of 4 mm or more at not more than 5% of sites. Bone loss was more pronounced in the maxilla, especially at molars. In this predominantly male population, periodontal bone loss gradually increased with age. However, prevalence of infrabony defects was very low.

Natural 4‐year periodontal progression of mandibular first molars in Chinese villagers based on radiographic records

“…At baseline, RBH decreased as age increasing, consistent with previous reports . In this study, RBH progression was significantly faster in the 25‐ to 44‐year age group than in the 15‐ to 24‐year age group.…”

“…Moreover, in this study, IBDs were noted in mandibular first molars. In addition, the prevalence of mesial IBD was significantly higher than that of distal IBD in both 1992 and 1996, which was consistent with previous reports . ‒ There appears to be no compelling biological reason for this observation; however, the development of periodontal disease at any site cannot be entirely explained by the etiological factors described here alone.…”

Enhanced alveolar bone loss in a model of non‐invasive periodontitis in rice rats

“…These results also suggest that in female rats that had substantial vertical ABL with age (22 wks of age), the diet effect is null or minimal. These findings are significant since rice rats, particularly females, fed a STD diet may reproduce the natural development of ABL as a function of age, as observed in some humans (Muller and Ulbrich 2005; Persson et al 1998; Shapira et al 1995). These findings support the use of female rice rats fed a STD diet as a spontaneous rat model of horizontal ABL characteristic of slight to mild periodontitis.…”

The relationship between root concavities in first premolars and chronic periodontitis

“…Chronic periodontal disease has been reported to cause structural changes in normal alveolar bone, which results in different forms and varying degrees of alveolar bone defect seen in different parts of the same tooth. In our study, we analyzed the effect of root concavities on defects seen in the first premolar interproximal bone using CBCT scanning.…”