Retrospective evaluation of jaw bone densities of individuals who had had gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy operation using cone beam computed tomography method

Objective: This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the jaw bone density change of individuals who underwent gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy, compared to the healthy control group without systemic disease, with the help of cone beam computed tomography. Method: Radiomorphometric index measurement in the mandible and HU value measurements in the maxilla, mandible and condyle on both sides were performed and compared in 20 patients (10 who had bariatric surgery and 10 control group patients) who had full-head cone beam computed tomography. Results: HU value measurements of individuals who underwent bariatric surgery were found to be lower than the control group, especially in the right maxilla (p<0.0001), left maxilla (p=0.001) and right condyle (0.052), which have higher cancellous bone content. No significant difference was found between HU values in the left condyle, right and left mandible. There was no significant difference in the direction of osteoporosis in radiomorphometric index measurements. Conclusion: It has been concluded that osteoporotic changes in the jaw bones of patients who have undergone bariatric surgery develop at different rates in different regions, depending on the mineral content of the bone and trabecular density. CBCT may be an option to evaluate these changes. Key words: bariatric surgery, CBCT, osteoporosis