Alveolar Bone Loss at Maxillary and Mandibular Permanent First Molars in Periodontitis Patients: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

TL;DR

This study measures alveolar bone loss at specific tooth sites in periodontitis patients using panoramic radiographs in Nepal.

Contribution

The study provides site-specific data on alveolar bone loss in maxillary and mandibular first molars among periodontitis patients in Nepal.

Findings

Maxillary first molars showed greater alveolar bone loss compared to mandibular first molars.

Smokers and individuals brushing teeth once daily had higher mean alveolar bone loss.

Mean alveolar bone loss was 4.27 mm (mesial) and 4.45 mm (distal) for maxillary molars.

Abstract

Periodontitis is an inflammatory condition of periodontium that results in alveolar bone loss. Panoramic radiograph is one of the methods used to evaluate alveolar bone loss. However, in Nepal data quantifying the extent and site-specific pattern of alveolar bone loss using panoramic radiograph are still lacking. The objective of this study was to determine the amount of alveolar bone loss at the mesial and distal sites of maxillary and mandibular permanent first molars.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Periodontology and Oral Implantology at National Medical College from 15 July 2023 to 15 March 2024 among 190 periodontitis patients using convenience sampling method after institutional ethical clearance. Alveolar bone loss at mesial and distal sites was measured in millimeters from cementoenamel junction to alveolar crest on a digital orthopantomogram. Data was entered in Microsoft Excel Sheet and descriptive analysis was done. The findings are presented as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. The point estimate was calculated at a 95% confidence.

In patients with periodontitis, the alveolar bone losses at mesial and distal sites of the maxillary first molars were 4.27±1.07 (95% CI: 4.11-4.41) mm and 4.45±1.12 (95% CI: 4.29-4.62) mm. For mandibular first molars the corresponding values were 3.69±0.92 (95% CI: 3.55-3.82) mm and 3.87±1.03 (95% CI: 3.72-4.01) mm. The mean alveolar bone loss was found to be higher among smokers, older age groups, and those who brushed their teeth only once a day.

The alveolar bone loss was greater in the maxillary first molar than mandibular first molar.