Evaluation of changes in trabecular alveolar bone during growth using conventional panoramic radiographs

Abstract

Objective. To assess changes of the alveolar trabecular bone during growth using panoramic radiographs and to detect possible differences in trabecular bone patterns when comparing individuals of various ages and genders. Materials and methods. Conventional panoramic radiographs of 18 young (eight females, 10 males) and 21 adult (12 females, nine males) subjects were taken at 2 years (T1) and 10 years (T2) after the end of orthodontic treatment. At T1, mean ages were 15.6 ± 0.9 years and 31.3 ± 9.7 years in the young and the adult groups, respectively. A three-scale visual analysis was used to evaluate bilaterally the alveolar bone trabeculation in the interdental spaces, from the distal side of the first mandibular premolar to the mesial side of the second lower molar. An analysis of variance (ANOVA), associated with t-tests whenever significance was found, was used to appraise the role of the age, the extent of the follow-up period and the gender on trabecular bone structure. Results. The adult group had a denser alveolar bone trabeculation, compared to the young group. This was also observed in the 8 years followup recordings among the adults, but no statistically significant differences were found in the growing individuals. No gender discrepancy was detected. Conclusions. From puberty to the middle age adulthood, denser alveolar bone trabeculation in the mandible seems to be related to the age. No differences were found between male and female subjects in the sample.

Assessment of the changes in alveolar bone quality after fixed orthodontic therapy: A trabecular structure analysis

“…But patients’ gender, race and age can influence bone metabolism. 25 Kiliaridis et al 10 conducted a research to evaluate changes in alveolar bone trabeculation during growth using the same three-scale visual analysis on PRs taken two and ten years following orthodontic treatment and to discover possible differences in patterns of trabeculation in patients of various genders and ages. They found that denser trabeculation in the alveolar bone seemed to be related to age.…”

“…11,12 A three-scale visual analysis was applied in our study, which has been shown to evaluate trabeculation on PRs in previous studies. 10,26 It has already been proved that PRs can be as useful as periapical radiographs in assessing trabecular pattern. 26 Although CBCT and other advanced 3D modalities of radiography are more accurate and provide more details, taking them routinely for orthodontic purposes seems unnecessary and uncommon because of their cost and lack of availability in all the oral and maxillofacial radiology centers and also their significant radiation doses.…”

“…Acta Odontologica Scandinavica. 2012;70:129”, 10 reprinted by permission of Taylor & Francis Ltd, www.tandfonline.com on behalf of Acta Odontologica Scandinavica Society. v1.9 (license # 3966071191260).…”

“…7-9 The structure of the trabecular bone is critical for the stability of an endosseous implant and mini-implant. 10 Trabecular bone structure can be evaluated using different approaches. Methods of fractal dimension analysis and visual observation can be used on two-dimensional plain radiographs whereas a special imaging software is used in three-dimensional (3D) imaging modalities.…”

Five-year alveolar bone level changes in women of varying skeletal bone mineral density and bone trabeculation

“…Mandibular trabecular bone becomes denser in the jaws from puberty to middle age. 13 With aging, alveolar trabecular bone becomes sparser in most women. 11 Current knowledge regarding the effects of osteoporosis or osteopenia on periodontal disease and alveolar bone loss is inconclusive, 14,15 but it is known that the thickness of the trabeculae, the spacing between the trabeculae, and trabecular connectivity are altered in patients with osteoporosis compared with those without.…”