Objectives: To determine the effects on alveolar bone mass (ABM) of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) and supplementation with calcium plus vitamin D (Ca+D). Methods: Two groups of postmenopausal women were analyzed: Group-1 patients received ERT and Ca+D for 5 years. Group-2 patients received only Ca+D for 3 years and then received Ca+D and ERT for two additional years. A separate regression analysis of ABM over time was performed for each subject. Regressions with positive slopes and r² ≥ 0.40 were considered clinically significant. For each group for each time period, the number of women with ABM increases was tested for statistical significance with a binomial test. Differences between groups were tested with Fisher exact tests. Results:

	Women with overall ABM gains		Women with r2 ≥ 0.40
	#/total (%)	Rate of change (%/yr ± SD)	#/total (%)*	Rate of ABM change (%/yr ± SD)	p
Group 1 Ca+D+HRT	22/26 (85)	0.34 ± 0.38	6/26 (23)	0.81 ± 0.21	0.002
Group 2 (Yr 1-3) Ca+D	17/19 (89)	0.74 ± 0.89	5/19 (26)	1.46 ± 1.01	0.002
Group 2 (Yr 4-5) Ca+D+HRT	11/18 (61)	0.16 ± 1.59	7/18 (39)	1.41 ± 1.10	< 0.001

*Differences in # of women between groups were not significant (p ≥ 0.32).

Conclusions: A significant number of Group-1 patients, who received ERT and Ca+D, had increases in ABM, as did a significant number of Group-2 patients who received only Ca+D for 3 years. During years 4 and 5, a significant number of Group-2 women gained ABM and had r² values ≥ 0.40. Relative to the 0-3-yr period (Ca+D only), all 7 of these women had higher r² values in years 4-5 (0.23 vs. 0.86), and 6 had higher ABM gains (0.31%/yr vs.1.41%/yr). Although HRT caused a greater increase in ABM than did Ca+D alone, differences between groups were not significant.

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