Evaluation of Cortical and Trabecular Bone Structure of the Mandible in Oral Contraceptive Users

Melek Tassoker; Mediha Ertürk

doi:10.7126/cumudj.1754895

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Evaluation of Cortical and Trabecular Bone Structure of the Mandible in Oral Contraceptive Users

Abstract

Objective: Oral contraceptives (OCs) are widely prescribed hormonal agents that may influence bone homeostasis due to their estrogen content. Estrogen is essential for maintaining skeletal integrity, primarily by modulating osteoblast and osteoclast activity. This study aimed to evaluate whether combined oral contraceptive (COC) use affects mandibular bone microarchitecture using fractal dimension (FD) analysis and panoramic mandibular index (PMI) assessments. Methods: A case-control design was employed, analyzing digital panoramic radiographs from 290 women aged 18–50, including 145 COC users and 145 age-matched controls. FD values were determined from three mandibular sites: the condyle, angle, and interdental region. PMI values were also computed. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 21.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: There were no statistically significant variations in FD values observed between the COC user group and the control group in the condylar (p=0.183), angular (p=0.603), or interdental (p=0.159) areas. Likewise, there was no significant difference in PMI values between the two groups (p=0.183). Additionally, neither FD nor PMI values were significantly associated with estimated duration of contraceptive use. Conclusion: Based on FD and PMI measurements, the study found no evidence that COC use leads to notable alterations in mandibular bone structure. These results suggest that estrogen-containing contraceptives may not adversely affect jawbone health in premenopausal women.

Keywords

Oral Kontraseptif Kullananlarda Mandibulanın Kortikal ve Trabeküler Kemik Yapısının Değerlendirilmesi

Öz

Amaç: Oral kontraseptifler (OK), östrojen içerikleri nedeniyle kemik metabolizmasını etkileyebilen yaygın olarak kullanılan hormonal ilaçlardır. Östrojen, osteoblast ve osteoklast aktivitesini düzenleyerek kemik yoğunluğunun korunmasında önemli bir rol oynar. Bu çalışma, fraktal analiz ve panoramik mandibular indeks (PMI) ölçümleri kullanarak kombine oral kontraseptiflerin (KOK) mandibular kemik yapısı üzerindeki etkilerini araştırmayı amaçlamıştır. Yöntem: 18-50 yaş aralığında 290 kadın hastanın (145 COC kullanıcısı ve 145 yaş eşleştirilmiş kontrol) dijital panoramik radyografileri kullanılarak bir vaka-kontrol çalışması yürütülmüştür. Fraktal boyut (FB) değerleri mandibular kondil, angulus ve interdental bölgeden ölçülürken, PMI değerleri hesaplanmıştır. İstatistiksel analiz için SPSS v21.0 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, ABD) kullanıldı ve anlamlılık düzeyi p<0,05 olarak belirlenmiştir. Bulgular: Kondiler (p=0,183), gonial (p=0,603) ve interdental (p=0,159) bölgelerde KOK kullanıcıları ve kontroller arasında FB değerlerinde anlamlı bir fark gözlenmemiştir. Benzer şekilde, PMI değerleri de vaka-kontrol arasında istatistiksel açıdan anlamlı bir ilişki göstermemiştir(p=0,183). Ayrıca, FB ve PMI değerleri KOK kullanım süresiyle anlamlı bir ilişki göstermemiştir. Sonuç: Bu çalışmada, FB ve PMI ölçümlerine dayanarak, KOK kullanımının mandibular kemik yapısını önemli ölçüde etkilediğine dair bir kanıt bulunamamıştır. Bu bulgular, östrojen içeren kontraseptiflerin menopoz öncesi kadınlarda kemik sağlığını olumsuz etkilemeyebileceğini düşündürmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Melek Tassoker ^*
0000-0003-2062-5713
Türkiye

Mediha Ertürk
0000-0002-8530-9335
Türkiye

Publication Date

March 27, 2026

Submission Date

July 31, 2025

Acceptance Date

October 24, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 29 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7126/cumudj.1754895

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA67NR83DZ

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

EndNote

Tassoker M, Ertürk M (March 1, 2026) Evaluation of Cortical and Trabecular Bone Structure of the Mandible in Oral Contraceptive Users. Cumhuriyet Dental Journal 29 1 47–52.