Mandibular bone mineral density changes in complete and removable partial denture wearers: a 6-month follow-up study.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine the changes in bone mineral density of the mandible in complete and removable free-end saddle denture wearers over a 6-month period.
Materials and Methods: Twenty removable partial denture patients and 20 complete denture wearers participated. Two dental panoramic radiographs were taken from each patient, the first prior to denture delivery and the second after 6 months of denture wearing. Bone mineral density measurements were performed on panoramic radiographs with a five-step copper stepwedge attached to each film cassette. Bone mineral density values of the measured regions of interest were expressed in equivalents of the stepwedge thickness (mm).
Results: The results revealed minor changes in bone mineral density values of the examined regions in the 6-month period. Under the distal end of complete denture saddles, the bone mineral density values decreased, whereas the values under the distal end of removable partial dentures increased. However, the difference between the first and second measurements was not significant. In each of the examined groups, the bone mineral density values at the gonion increased significantly by approximately 20%. This was attributed to the increased strain forces of the masseter muscle at the gonion after denture delivery.
Conclusion: Significant increase of bone mineral density values was registered 2 mm above the gonion in both complete and removable partial denture wearers. Age and gender were not related to the bone mineral density changes over a 6-month period.