Women urged to visit their dentist more regularly after the menopause
A team of researchers have urged postmenopausal women to visit their dentist more frequently.
According to the findings of a study carried out by researchers at the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine and the Cleveland Clinic, attending a routine check-up every six months is not enough for postmenopausal women.
The study was carried out to determine the long-term effects of bisphosphonate therapy, which is used to treat osteoporosis; however, researchers discovered information which was useful for all postmenopausal women. The research study involved a total of 56 women; 28 women were on bisphosphonate treatment for osteoporosis and 28 had normal, healthy bones. All the participants had thorough periodontal checks and cone beam CT scans of their jaw bones; they all followed cleaning and oral hygiene advice from the American Dental Association.
The findings of the study showed that markers including bone strength were the same for both groups, but also, the risk of periodontal disease was also higher than normal due to both sets of women having increased levels of dental plaque. Increased levels of dental plaque can be harmful for the jaw bone.
The findings of the study were published in last month’s Menopause journal. Leena Palomo, assistant professor of periodontics from the Case Western Reserve University dental school, said that the findings of the study indicated that postmenopausal women had a higher risk of developing periodontal disease; as a result of this, Palomo said that it may be beneficial for women to visit their dentist more frequently after the menopause.
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