Mandibular inferior cortical bone thickness on panoramic radiographs in patients using bisphosphonates

Abstract

The goal of this study was to detect dimensional changes in the mandibular cortical bone associated with bisphosphonate (BP) use and to correlate measurements of the cortical bone with the cumulative dose of BPs. Mandibular inferior cortical bone thickness (MICBT) was measured under the mental foramen on panoramic radiographs of patients with and without bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ) taking BPs and controls. Patients with BRONJ had the highest mean MICBT (6.81 ± 1.35 mm), compared with patients without BRONJ taking BPs (5.44 ± 1.09 mm) and controls (4.79 ± 0.85 mm) (P < .01). Mean MICBT of patients with BRONJ was significantly higher than that of patients without BRONJ taking BPs. There was a correlation between MICBT and cumulative dose of zolendronate. Measurement of MICBT on panoramic radiographs is a potentially useful tool for the detection of dimensional changes associated with BP therapy.