Mandibular inferior cortex width may serve as a prognostic osteoporosis index in Polish patients.

BACKGROUND Panoramic radiographs are increasingly considered as a screening tool in the search for osteopaenia and osteoporosis. No information on normal ranges of radiographic parameters of the inferior cortex (IC) in Polish population has been found in literature; therefore, the objective of the study was to determine normal ranges of mandibular inferior cortex width on panoramic radiographs and to examine the influence of gender and age on these parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS The material consisted of 877 digital panoramic radiographs taken of patients aged 20 to 95 years (mean 48.69 years), including 467 females and 410 males. Mandibular inferior cortex width at the mental foramina was estimated, and the obtained results were subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS It was found that IC and mental index (MI) values in the studied group of Polish patients depended on age. As far as gender is considered, IC and MI were higher in males. When age and gender were discussed simultaneously, the highest values of IC and MI were observed in age group 30-39 years in both genders, followed by a gradual decrease with age, but this decrease was more pronounced in females. CONCLUSIONS The elaborated norms of panoramic radiomorphometric parameters in Polish patients may serve as a source of comparison for radiological and clinical applications.