Purpose:
Mental index (MI) and panoramic mandibular index (PMI) are important
radiomorphometric indices used for assessing the quality of the mandibular bone.
The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effect of mandibular posterior
tooth/teeth loss in young adults on the MI and PMI (superior panoramic mandibular
index: PMI-s, and inferior panoramic mandibular index: PMI-i).
Materials and methods:
Digital panoramic radiographs belonging to 253 patients aged between 18-35 years
old were examined. According to the inclusion criteria of the study, a patient and
control group was formed. The patient group (n=46) included individuals having at
least one extracted tooth in the posterior region of the mandible, and the control
group (n=45) included full dentate patients. The MI and PMI (PMI-i and PMI-s) were
calculated bilaterally for all of the individuals.
Results:
No significant difference was found between the MI, PMI-i and PMI-s indices of the
patient group and the control group among both genders.
Conclusion:
The mandibular premolar and/or molar teeth loss in young adults did not lead to
any change in the MI, PMI-i and PMI-s indices among both genders.