Both osteoporosis and periodontal diseases affect a large segment of the population, men and women, with greater frequency as the-old osteoporosis increases is a skeletal disorder characterized by a reduction of the quality, density and bone strength, increasing the risk of fractures. A 30% - 50% of women affected by the disease and provides for an increase of incidents in the future. The disease, which as we said also concerns men, dubbed "silent epidemic" because the diagnosis in the early stages is often difficult and evolving relatively quietly.
On the other hand, periodontitis is a chronic inflammation of the supportive tissues of the teeth, i.e. the gingiva and jaw bone. The main feature is the loss of bone around the teeth respectively leading to loss of the same teeth, due to lack of support and mobility. Accompanied by bleeding, swollen gums or disclosure roots and create pockets in gingival crevice filled germs.
While the primary cause of periodontal disease is the accumulation of dental plaque due to improper oral hygiene, there are a number of factors that decisively influence the course of the disease. An important factor is osteoporosis.
The alveolar bone is especially prone to osteoporosis. As the main cause of osteoporosis is considered the menopause, treatment includes estrogen, calcium and vitamin D. This treatment leads, respectively, and a significant increase in bone density of the jaws, reduce bleeding gums and improve the image of periodontitis.
The correlation between the two diseases and the fact that, according to several researchers, the mandibular bone affected by osteoporosis too early, before the spine and long bones, leading to the conclusion that the periodontal examination could contribute early detection of osteoporosis. Since, as noted above, osteoporosis can develop silently, making it difficult to diagnose in the early stages, patients with a history of periodontal disease should be advised to be considered for osteoporosis prevention.
The importance of early diagnosis of osteoporosis due to the possibility of early treatment of the disease. As the disease progresses, the more absorbed the bone of the jaw and often are still weak and chewing with dentures. The patient's quality of life deteriorates, diet limited to soft foods without the necessary nutrients and therefore osteoporosis aggravated.
Summarizing the association of periodontal disease with osteoporosis, it is worth mentioning that regular dental checks can be an important step both in terms of prevention but sometimes also diagnosis.
