Evaluation of jaw bone changes in patients with asthma using inhaled corticosteroids with mandibular radiomorphometric indices on dental panoramic radiographs

BACKGROUND: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) are an effective drug commonly used in asthma treatment. It is known that osteoporotic changes can occur secondary to steroid usage, depending on dosage and duration. The aim of this study was to compare radiomorphometric indices and fractal dimension on panoramic images of patients with asthma using ICSs and healthy controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 66 dental panoramic radiographs (DPRs) taken from 32 patients with asthma using ICSs and 34 healthy individuals were evaluated in this retrospective study. Panoramic mandibular index inferior and superior (PMI-i,PMI-s), mandibular cortical width (MCW), gonial index (GI), antegonial index (AI), mandibular cortical index (MCI), and fractal dimension analysis (FDA) were measured on DPRs. RESULTS: PMI-s (p=0.02), MCW (p<0.001), GI (p<0.001) and AI (p<0.001) values were significantly lower in the group of the asthma using ICSs than control group. However, the PMI-i (p ˃0.05) measurement, the MCI (p ˃0.05) and FDA values distribution were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The use of ICSs in asthma patients can affect bone quality. The evaluation of PMI-s, MCW, GI, and AI on DPR can help determine the effect of this drug on the jawbones in the early period and select dental and surgical treatment plans appropriately. Key words:Asthma, corticosteroids, osteoporosis, radiomorphometric indices, fractal dimension.