Oral radiographic changes in patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma).

Intraoral and panoramic radiographs were made of 35 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis. Of those patients, 13 (37%) were found to have abnormally thickened periodontal ligament spaces. Six of the 35 demonstrated mild to significant resorption of the posterior mandibular angle. Three patients, including two showing angle resorption also had some degree of coronoid process destruction. All patients with this disease should receive initial and follow-up panoramic radiographic examinations to determine any osseous changes.