Association Between Mandibular Cortical Erosion and Bone Mineral Density Assessed by Phalangeal Ultrasound and Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry in Spanish Women
Maria L. Canal-Macías,
Vicente Vera-Rodríguez,
Olga Leal-Hernández,
Julián Fernando Calderón-García,
Raúl Roncero-Martín,
Francisco García-Blázquez,
Sergio Rico-Martín,
Fidel López-Espuela,
José M. Morán,
Juan Fabregat-Fernández,
Jesús M. Lavado-García,
María Pedrera-Canal
Affiliations
Maria L. Canal-Macías
Metabolic Bone Diseases Research Group, Nursing Department, Nursing and Occupational Therapy College, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Vicente Vera-Rodríguez
Metabolic Bone Diseases Research Group, Nursing Department, Nursing and Occupational Therapy College, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Olga Leal-Hernández
Metabolic Bone Diseases Research Group, Nursing Department, Nursing and Occupational Therapy College, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Julián Fernando Calderón-García
Department of Nursing, Nursing and Occupational Therapy College, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Raúl Roncero-Martín
Metabolic Bone Diseases Research Group, Nursing Department, Nursing and Occupational Therapy College, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Francisco García-Blázquez
Department of Nursing, University Centre of Plasencia, University of Extremadura, 10600 Plasencia, Spain
Sergio Rico-Martín
Department of Nursing, Nursing and Occupational Therapy College, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Fidel López-Espuela
Metabolic Bone Diseases Research Group, Nursing Department, Nursing and Occupational Therapy College, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
José M. Morán
Metabolic Bone Diseases Research Group, Nursing Department, Nursing and Occupational Therapy College, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Juan Fabregat-Fernández
Metabolic Bone Diseases Research Group, Nursing Department, Nursing and Occupational Therapy College, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Jesús M. Lavado-García
Metabolic Bone Diseases Research Group, Nursing Department, Nursing and Occupational Therapy College, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
María Pedrera-Canal
Nuclear Medicine Service, Hospital San Carlos Clinical, Servicio Madrileño de Salud, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Background and Objectives: Analysing the characteristics of the mandibular bone through panoramic radiographs could be useful as a prescreening tool for detecting individuals with osteoporosis. The aims of this study were to evaluate the possible associations between the mandibular cortical index (MCI) and bone mineral density (BMD) in various bone regions, to investigate whether BMD better identifies moderate–severe mandibular erosion or severe mandibular erosion, and to establish BMD cut-off points to identify individuals with moderate or severe mandibular cortical erosion. Methods: This study analysed 179 Spanish Caucasian women between September 2021 and June 2024. Bone measurements, including amplitude-dependent speed of sound (Ad-SOS), the ultrasound bone profiler index (UBPI), and the bone transmission time (BTT), were obtained via dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for the femoral neck, lumbar spine, and trochanter and quantitative bone ultrasound (QUS) for the phalanx. The MCI was calculated via the Klemetti index from panoramic radiographs. Results: According to the Klemetti index classification, lower QUS measurements in the phalanx and DXA measurements in the femoral neck, trochanter, and lumbar spine were found in women with poorer mandibular cortical bone quality. Our results revealed that, compared with moderate cortical erosion, all the BMD measures had better AUCs when identifying severe cortical erosion. Moreover, femoral neck BMD had the largest area under the curve (AUC = 0.719) for detecting severe mandibular cortical erosion, suggesting a cut-off of 2. Finally, predictor analysis of osteoporosis revealed that moderate and severe mandibular cortical erosion, compared with an uninjured mandibular cortical area, was independently associated with a diagnosis of osteoporosis. Conclusions: In conclusion, MCI was associated with BMD measurements assessed by QUS and DXA in various bone regions. Our results suggest that the Klemetti index could be used as a predictor of osteoporosis and fracture risk.
