Analysis of Plasma Osteocalcin Levels, Status of Oral Disease and Alteration in Mandibular Bone Density in Postmenopausal Women

Aim: The present study was undertaken for assessing Plasma Osteocalcin levels, status of Oral Disease and alteration in Mandibular Bone Density in Postmenopausal Women (PMW). Materials & methods: 80 premenopausal women and 80 PMW were enrolled. For analysing the oral dryness, clinical score of oral dryness (CSOD) on a scale of upto 10 was used in all each subject. Complete dental profiling of all the subjects was done. Digital panoramic radiographs were taken for all the subjects. Measurements were made on each PAN and following indices were evaluated for assessing the mandibular BMD: Mandibular cortical index (MCI), Mandibular cortical index (MCI), panoramic mandibular index (PMI), Mandibular cortical width (MCW), and Fractal dimension (FD). Osteocalcin levels were evaluated with ELISA technique. All the results were recorded and analysed. Results: Mean osteocalcin levels of PMW (453.12 ng/mL) were significantly higher in comparison to the premenopausal subjects (249.28 ng/mL). PMW had significantly higher clinical score of oral dryness and number of peri - apical radiolucencies in comparison to premenopausal women. Bone mineral density as assessed by mandibular cortical index were found to be negatively and significantly correlated with oral disease status and osteocalcin levels. Only mandibular cortical index varied significantly statistically in between the two study groups. Conclusion: There is significantly higher prevalence of oral lesions along with oral dryness in postmenopausal women. Also, thinning of mandibular cortex is significantly higher in postmenopausal women. Higher plasma osteocalcin levels helps in predicting osteopenia/osteoporosis at an early stage in such subjects. Clinical significance: Special considerations should be made in postmenopausal women while doing treatment planning for prosthetic purposes (dental implants) as edentulous bone is at higher risk of osteoporosis in such patients.