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Estrogen deficiency and its effect on the jaw bones

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Abstract

Estrogen deficiency-induced postmenopausal osteoporosis has become a worldwide problem, inducing low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of the bone scaffolding in the vertebrae and long bones. With the prevalence of such osteoporosis on the increase, the influence of this estrogen deficiency on the jaw bones has drawn the attention of researchers and clinicians in the field of dentistry. The aim of this article is therefore to review the microstructural changes occurring after ovariectomy in the jaw bones of animal subjects. Induced estrogen deficiency clearly led to structural changes in the jaw bones and alveolar bone of animal subjects (rats and monkeys). Severe bone loss in the rat alveolar bone was principally caused by high bone resorptive activity. This activity accelerated greatly immediately after ovariectomy, and was then followed by more moderate resorptive activity, which continued over an extended period. Additionally, occlusal hypofunction further greatly accelerated the fragility of the alveolar bone structure in ovariectomized rats. Microstructural damage also seen in the alveolar bone of ovariectomized monkeys was found to be directly connected to their systemic osteoporosis. Recent investigations of the relationship in humans between systemic osteoporosis and jaw bone loss have also suggested that a connection may exist between these two. However, more research is required to confirm this connection in humans as well.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral Anatomy, Division of Oral Structure, Function and Development, Asahi University School of Dentistry, 1851-1 Hozumi, Mizuho, Gifu, 501-0296, Japan

    Sadakazu Ejiri

  2. Division of Removable Prosthodontics, Department of Tissue Regeneration and Reconstruction, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan

    Mikako Tanaka, Rezwana Binte Anwar, Emi Yamashita & Kazuho Yamada

  3. Division of Orthodontics, Department of Oral Biological Science, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan

    Naoko Watanabe

  4. Division of Oral Morphology, Science of Functional Recovery and Reconstruction, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan

    Mika Ikegame

Authors
  1. Sadakazu Ejiri
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  2. Mikako Tanaka
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  3. Naoko Watanabe
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  4. Rezwana Binte Anwar
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  5. Emi Yamashita
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  6. Kazuho Yamada
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  7. Mika Ikegame
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Correspondence to Sadakazu Ejiri.

Additional information

S. Ejiri is a recipient of JSBMR Academic Award 2004

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Ejiri, S., Tanaka, M., Watanabe, N. et al. Estrogen deficiency and its effect on the jaw bones. J Bone Miner Metab 26, 409–415 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00774-008-0870-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00774-008-0870-4

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