DENSITOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ALVEOLAR PROCESSES OF THE JAWS IN PATIENTS WITH GENERALIZED PERIODONTITIS BASED ON COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY DATA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/2786-7684/2025-4-14Keywords:
periodontitis, radiological examination, mineral density, sex differencesAbstract
Introduction. Radiological examination, particularly computed tomography, remains an important method for diagnosing generalized periodontitis, as it allows determining not only the geometric parameters of bone tissue but also its mineral density, which can serve as a useful indicator for assessing the course of the disease. The aim of the study. To investigate the densitometric characteristics of the alveolar processes of the jaws by analyzing computed tomography data of male and female patients with generalized periodontitis. Materials and methods. Ninety-five cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of patients aged 35–75 years with diagnosed generalized periodontitis of various stages or with intact periodontal tissues were analyzed. Using dedicated software, the mineral density of bone tissue was measured in Hounsfield units (HU) in six regions: between the central incisors of the upper and lower jaws and between the first and second molars of the upper and lower jaws on both the left and right sides. Statistical analysis was performed to determine differences in mean densitometric values between male and female patients, as well as between individuals with generalized periodontitis and those with healthy periodontal tissues. The results. The mean densitometric values in males with generalized periodontitis ranged from 1345,6±143,7 HU between the central incisors of the mandible to 459,4±45,9 HU between the molars of the maxilla. Among males with intact periodontium, the mean values in the corresponding areas ranged from 1421,4±144,7 HU to 567,4±54,2 HU. In females with generalized periodontitis, these values were lower, ranging from 1101,2±134,2 HU to 267,9±37,8 HU, while in women without periodontitis – from 1211,1±122,1 HU to 396,4±45,2 HU. Conclusions. Male patients had significantly (p<0,05) higher mean densitometric values than females. With the progression of generalized periodontitis, the mineral density of the bone tissue of the alveolar processes of the jaws significantly (p<0,05) decreases. Determination of densitometric parameters in patients with periodontitis may serve as a useful marker for diagnosis and prediction of disease progression.
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