Osteoporosis treatment may lower the risk of severe periodontitis in women by nearly 50 %...
A recent study of 500 postmenopausal women who received service at an osteoporosis diagnosis center in Brazil, revealed that women over the age of 50 treated with estrogen for osteoporosis are 44 percent less likely to have severe periodontitis than women who did not receive the treatment.
The lack of estrogen, a natural consequence of menopause, places women at risk of osteoporosis as they age. To counter these effects, some women are prescribed estrogen therapy along with supplements of calcium and vitamin D.
This study draws a link between estrogen therapy and periodontitis, a disease that can ultimately lead to tooth loss and destruction of the jaw bone. "These results help confirm … that estrogen therapy to prevent osteoporosis could also play a role in the prevention of gum disease," says Frank Scannapieco, DMD, PhD, co-author on the study, and professor and chair of the Department of Oral Biology in the UB School of Dental Medicine.
The researchers found that women receiving osteoporosis treatment had less periodontal probing depth and clinical attachment loss (this is the amount of space between teeth and surrounding tissue due to bone loss), and less gum bleeding than those who did not receive therapy.
Despite the evidence of estrogen playing a significant role in maintaining healthy bones, it’s still need serious consideration as hormone therapy also has been shown to cause adverse effects, such as increasing the risk of heart disease and breast cancer, says Scannapieco.
Future research is needed to understand if prevention and treatment of osteoporosis may also help to control periodontal disease and tooth loss.
Journal Reference:
1.Johelle de S. Passos-Soares, Maria Isabel P. Vianna, Isaac S. Gomes-Filho, Simone S. Cruz, Maurício L. Barreto, Luis F. Adan, Cassiano K. Rösing, Soraya C. Trindade, Eneida M.M. Cerqueira, Frank A. Scannapieco. Association between osteoporosis treatment and severe periodontitis in postmenopausal women. Menopause, 2017; 24 (7): 789 DOI: 10.1097/GME.0000000000000830
Story Source:
Materials provided by University at Buffalo. Original written by Marcene Robinson. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.