Age and sex differences in bone density, height, and width: a correlational study

Introduction
Bone density, height, and width are critical factors influencing the success of dental implants, with variations in these parameters often linked to age and sex.

Objectives
This study aimed to investigate the correlations between bone density, height, and width with age and sex, to provide insights, which may support evidence-based approaches in implant dentistry.

Material and methods
This cross-sectional study involved a cohort of participants aged 30-70 years. Bone density was assessed using cone beam computed tomography transagittal sections, categorized according to the Misch classification (D1-D4). Bone height and width were measured in millimeters. Age was divided into two groups, i.e., 30-49 years and 50-70 years, while sex was categorized as men or women. Spearman’s correlation test was employed to evaluate the relationships between these variables, with significance set at p < 0.05.

Results
The analysis revealed no significant correlation between bone density and age (r = 0.158, p = 0.113) or sex (r = −0.120, p = 0.228). However, bone height showed a strong negative correlation with sex (r = −0.424, p = 0.000), and bone width displayed a moderate negative correlation with sex (r = −0.296, p = 0.003), indicating that men gene­rally have greater bone height and width compared with women. No significant correlation was observed between bone height or width and age.

Conclusions
The findings suggest that sex plays a significant role in determining bone height and width, which are crucial for dental implant planning.