Periodontal medicine: The bidirectional relationship between osteoporosis and periodontal health

Abstract

Bone resorption is a feature of both osteoporosis and periodontitis. While, periodontitis causes localized inflammatory bone loss after an infected breach of the alveolar cortical bone and may cause tooth loss, osteoporosis causes systemic degenerative bone loss that results in loss of skeletal cancellous microstructure and eventual fracture. The majority of cross-sectional investigations have predominantly used radiographic data and to a lesser extent clinical criteria to confirm the link between osteoporosis and periodontitis. Age, heredity, hormonal changes, smoking, and a lack of calcium and vitamin D are just a few of the many common risk factors. Both disorders may have mutual effects and may even be risk factors for one another, necessitating concurrent therapy. Disruption of the homeostasis of bone remodelling, hormone balance, and inflammation resolution are proposed processes underpinning the relationship. Emerging is a mutual interventional strategy with intricate therapeutic interactions. Both disorders urge future well-controlled longitudinal and interventional studies for evidence-based clinical guidelines and call for interdisciplinary approaches to prevention and care.