Digital Scanning Radiographic Image Analysis of Alveolar Bone Loss in Individuals with Untreated Adult Periodontitis and Aggressive Periodontitis: A Cross-Sectional Study

The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the difference of radiographic alveolar bone loss (RABL) in Taiwan Chinese subjects with aggressive periodontitis (AgP) and adult periodontitis (AP) using the digital scanning radiographic image analysis (DSRIA). A total of 4262 teeth were examined in 178 individuals comprising 96 males and 82 females for the RABL of the AGP and the AP. Subject pooling sample with AgP and a compared group, AP, were originally identified from the Periodontal Clinic population (College of Dental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University). The following criteria were used to classify subjects with AgP and AP for the past 20 years. The method used to document mesial and distal sites included periapical radiographs, scanner, computerized programs system equipped with the Microstation 95 Image software. All the RABL of teeth were calculated by a computer system equipped with Microstation 95 software under a 10x magnification of radiograph. Quantity assessment of RABL using the DSRIA showed that: (1) the means of RABL of maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth in the AgP group were significant greater than those in the AP group when two sample t-test was used; (2) the greatest values of mean RABL of affected sites with AgP group occurred most common in the first molars and mandibular incisors; whereas the AP group occurred most common in the first and second molars; (3) the mean RABL in a descending order for tooth type were molars, incisors, premolars and then canines, respectively; (4) the mean DSRIA was increased with increased age group. We can conclude that the features of naturally progressing alveolar bone loss at the molar and incisor sites in untreated subjects with the AgP and the AP revealed that the mean RABL in the AgP group was faster and greater than those in the AP group.