# Radiation Diagnostics of the Maxillofacial Region and Skeleton Bone Density in the Case of Vitamin D Insufficiency: A Pilot Study

## TL;DR

This pilot study explores whether jawbone density measured via CBCT can detect early signs of bone loss linked to vitamin D insufficiency.

## Contribution

The study investigates a potential early diagnostic method for bone density changes using dental imaging in vitamin D-deficient patients.

## Key findings

- CBCT showed jawbone tissue types D3 and D2, but no strong correlation with DXA or QCT.
- Osteopenia signs were found in 33% of patients via DXA and 50% via QCT, with no significant difference between methods.
- CBCT may detect early bone density changes in the jaw before systemic methods like DXA or QCT.

## Abstract

(1) Background: A decrease in bone mineral density has been noted not only in at-risk patients (e.g., postmenopausal women) but also in young and middle-aged individuals due to changes in lifestyle. The aim of the study was to find a possible correlation for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and quantitative computed tomography (QCT) with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) of the jaws. (2) Methods: A total of 24 patients (14 women and 10 men aged 25 to 50 years) with partial secondary tooth loss and vitamin D insufficiency underwent cone beam computed tomography of the jaws and skeletal mineral density assessment using DXA (n = 12) and QCT (n = 12). (3) Results: When conducting CBCT of the jaws, a predominance of bone tissue type D3 (350–850 Hu) on the upper jaw (p > 0.05 (F = 0.68) and D2 (850–1350 Hu) on the lower jaw (p > 0.05 (F = 1) was revealed. According to the results of QCT densitometry of the skeleton, signs of osteopenia were found in four patients (with vitamin D3 deficiency) (33%) according to DXA; signs of osteopenia were found in six patients (with severe deficiency and deficiency of vitamin D3) (50%). The difference between QCT and DXA was not significant (p > 0.05) for each group. The significant strong correlation between CBCT and DXA or QCT was not found (p > 0.05). (4) Conclusions: Primary changes in bone density can be detected earlier in the dental system using cone beam computed tomography of the jaws. At the same time, the question of using a specific densitometry method—DXA or QCT—remains open, as their results correlating with CBCT optical density was not approved.