KOREASCHOLAR

Previous researches have revealed that dental panoramic radiographs routinely taken in dental clinics can be useful to diagnose low bone density. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence, awareness and treatment rate of low bone density of females utilizing dental panoramic images. Four-hundred-and-fifteen female patients(mean age 70.4 yrs ± 11.4 yrs) between the age of 50s to 90s, at Chonnam National University Dental Hospital were randomly selected for this study. The panoramic radiographs taken from the patients were reviewed for the purpose of interpreting suspected low bone density(SLBD) on the basis of mandibular cortex index. Awareness and treatment rates of osteoporosis were investigated based on electronic records using the past medical history. As a result, the prevalence rate was 42.17%(175 in 415), the osteoporosis-awareness rate 22.3%(39 in 175), and the treatment rate 87%(34 in 39), showing that the osteoporosis-awareness rate was low, but the treatment rate was relatively high. In conclusion, it can be suggested that osteoporosis-awareness rate by diagnosing SLBD with dental panoramic radiographs be increased to help patients to receive proper treatment.

Ⅰ. INTRODUCTION
Ⅱ. MATERIALS and METHODS
    Study subjects
    Interpretation of SLBD using panoramicradiographs
    Awareness and treatment rates of patientsdiagnosed with osteoporosis
Ⅲ. RESULTS
Ⅳ. DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

• 김성진(전남대학교 치의학전문대학원) | Sung Jin Kim (School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University)
• 송인자(광주여자대학교 간호학과) | In-Ja Song (Department of Nursing, Kwangju Women's University)
• 이은주(전남대학교 치의학전문대학원 구강해부학교실 치의학연구소) | Eun Joo Lee (Department of Oral Anatomy, School of Dentistry, Dental Science Research Institute, Chonnam National University) Corresponding author
• 윤숙자(전남대학교 치의학전문대학원 영상치의학교실 치의학연구소) | Suk-Ja Yoon (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Dental Science Research Institute, Chonnam National University)