Attention to women before, during and after the menopause is currently arousing interest. There are two main reasons for this: proportional ageing and the controversial benefits of HRT in controlling the changes associated with osteopenia and osteoporosis.

The effects on the oral cavity range from dryness and burning of the mucous membranes to mobility and tooth loss. The aim of this study was to evaluate the linear measurement of the distance between the cemento-enamel junction and the apical region of the alveolar crest, and the optical density, gray levels/attenuation coefficient of the apical region of the alveolar crest in molars and incisors using 150 vertical interproximal radiographs digitized by the DentScan DentView system.

270 bone defects, 5 dry skulls, produced progressively, mechanically/chemically were evaluated by comparing and correlating these variables. The results showed that there was more underestimation in more advanced defects than overestimation, concluding that it is possible to detect bone changes in the alveolar crest by digitizing images, before they are visualized on conventional radiographs, including periodontal disease, menopause and osteoporosis.

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