Objectives: The objective of the present study is to evaluate the association between changes in bone mineral density (BMD) and clinical signs of periodontal tissue destruction. Methods: A total of 397 women (mean age 75.5 years) were randomly selected for an ancillary study of periodontal disease, present or absence of the teeth and osteoporosis. All subjects were participants at the Pittsburgh Center for the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF), a prospective cohort study of women 65 years of age or older designed to determine risk factors for fractures. Oral health examinations, including periodontal probing and attachment loss, were performed at the fourth clinical visit, an average of 6 years after baseline. BMD of the total hip and its sub-regions were measured using dual energy X ray absorptiometry at the time of dental examination, and two years later results are expressed as annual % change. Generalized linear models were used to assess theassociation between BMD and present or absence of teeth and periodontal status. Periodontal variables included average loss of periodontal attachment (LOA), number of sites with at least 4mm of attachment loss, presence or absence of calculus, and presence or absence of teeth. Results: A total of 145 (36.4%) women were edentulous and 163 (80.7%) had periodontal disease. Dentate women reported higher education (p<0.001), and a higher calcium intake (P=0.002). Edentulous women were more likely to lose BMD at the trochanter compared to dentate women, (-0.86%yr vs. -0.52%/yr. P=0.045) respectively. There was no difference in bone loss at the total hip or femoral neck, and there was no difference in age or weight. BMD of the hip and change in BMD also did not differ by periodontal assessments. Conclusion: We concluded,there was little evidence of an association between edentulousness, periodontal disease and longitudinal changes in BMD.

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