Geraets WG, Jonasson G, Hakeberg M. Changing trabecular patterns in panoramic radiographs of Swedish women during 25 years of follow-up.
Dentomaxillofac Radiol 2020;
49:20190494. [PMID:
32207990 DOI:
10.1259/dmfr.20190494]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
The radiographic trabecular pattern on dental radiographs may be used to predict fractures. The aim of this study was to analyze longitudinal changes in the mandibles of 145 females between 1980 and 2005.
METHODS
Panoramic radiographs were obtained in 1980 and 2005. On 290 radiographs, regions of interest (ROIs) were selected in the ramus, angle and body. In all ROIs, the orientation was measured in 36 directions with the line frequency deviation method. The effects of ageing were analyzed for the fracture and the non-fracture groups separately.
RESULTS
During the follow-up, 61 females suffered fractures of the hip, wrist, spine, leg or arm. The fracture and non-fracture groups displayed dissimilar age changes in each investigated ROI. All significant changes pertained to increasing values of line frequency deviation. With increasing age, the trabecular network in the mandible lost details and the trabeculae became more aligned in their main direction. In the "ramus", the alignment was to the 110-120˚ axis, parallel to the posterior and anterior ramus border. In the "angle", the alignment was to the 135-150˚ axis, parallel to the oblique line, and in the "body" ROI to the 150-175˚ direction, approximately parallel to the occlusal plane and inferior cortex.
CONCLUSION
Most changes were consistent with the notion that the bone aged less severely in the non-fracture group. In the fracture group, the findings indicate that bone loss leads to redistribution of the remaining bone tissue in such a way that the trabeculae are accentuated perpendicular to the principal loading.
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