Dental caries and restorations in proximal tooth surfaces often impinge upon the periodontal biological health.This study examines whether these factors may contribute to risk for alveolar bone loss.
Methods: Approximal tooth surfaces of 96 teeth in 40 patients were evaluated on panoramic radiographs for alveolar bone loss, restorations and caries.
Results: Higher values of alveolar bone loss were observed in molars and on the right side of patients. Where a caries/restorative event had occurred in the inter-proximal tooth surface bone loss at the corresponding teeth was approximately twice more than in the omologous non-treated tooth. Increased number of furcations was also observed in molars with caries/restorations.
Conclusions: Site-specific periodontal bone loss due to dental caries or restorative events occurs in adults.