Calcium, vitamin D supplements with or without alendronate and supragingival calculus formation in osteoporotic women

Objectives : Long-term calcium intake is related to the formation of urinary stones. Structure and composition of kidney and gallstones are similar to dental calculus. Saliva is the source of calcium for supragingival dental calculus formation. The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate the possible effects of long-term calcium and vitamin D supplementation with or without alendronate administration on salivary electrolyte concentrations and supragingival calculus formation in osteoporotic women.

Methods: Thirty-one female patients with osteoporosis for at least 3 years participated in this study. Eighteen women were taking calcium plus vitamin D plus alendronate, while 13 women were taking only calcium plus vitamin D supplements. Eleven systemically healthy women volunteered for the control group. Whole saliva samples were collected from all women before initiation of any periodontal intervention. Plaque index, probing depth, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing, and calculus index were recorded at six sites/tooth. Salivary concentrations of ionic calcium, potassium, magnesium and sodium were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results were evaluated statistically by non-parametric tests.

Results: No significant differences were found in clinical parameters or results of saliva analysis between the study groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Within the limits of this preliminary study, it is suggested that long-term calcium and vitamin D supplementation with or without alendronate does not appear to have a significant effect on supragingival calculus formation or saliva total calcium, potassium, magnesium and sodium concentrations. Larger-scale studies investigating the possible effects of various treatment modalities of osteoporosis on supragingival calculus formation are required to better clarify this issue.

Source: Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, August 2008, Vol. 9, No. 12