Systemic bone diseases and reduction of the residual ridge of the mandible; primary hyperparathyroidism. A preliminary report.

Twenty-five edentulous patients with established hyperparathyroidism were evaluated to establish a possible relation between extreme reduction of the height of the mandible and systemic bone loss. As an important parameter of the severity of the systemic bone loss, the level of the intact biologically active molecule of the parathormone was used. In this study no relation between hyperparathyroidism and reduction of the residual alveolar ridge could be established. In only two patients the reduction could be classified as "severe." Furthermore the level of the active, intact, circulating parathormone or the duration of the hyperparathyroidism could not be identified as an important factor in relation to the local phenomenon of reduction of the alveolar ridges.