Clinical significance and variation of the advanced calcified stylohyoid complex detected among 80-year-old subjects

This study evaluated the clinical significance and variation of a calcified stylohyoid complex associated with advanced calcification as detected on panoramic radiographs among 80-year-old subjects. Panoramic radiographs of 659 patients (262 men and 397 women) and data of their general and dental health conditions were used for the evaluation of the relationship between a calcified stylohyoid complex and general health among 80-year-olds. This study was part of the 8020 Data Bank Survey, which was designed to collect baseline data of general and dental health conditions in 80-year-old subjects. The morphology of the calcified stylohyoid complexes was allocated to one of 12 patterns. The lengths of the calcified stylohyoid complexes were measured directly on the radiographs from the caudal margin of the tympanic plate to the tip of the styloid process. All of the stylohyoid complexes from the 659 panoramic radiographs could be allocated to one of 12 morphological patterns and some of their radiographic findings suggested calcification of the carotid artery and lymph nodes. In 80-years-old subjects, the average length of the calcified stylohyoid complexes was 36.7 mm, and ranged from 0.0 mm to 153.0 mm. There appeared to be correlations between the length of the calcified stylohyoid complex and serum calcium concentration and heel bone density, but not with the Community Periodontal Index (CPI). Dentists should recognize the existence of morphological variation in calcified stylohyoid complexes, especially in length, apparent on panoramic radiographs of 80-year-old patients. In addition, the longer length of the calcified stylohyoid complexes in 80-year-old patients may be a predictor of bone density and high serum calcium concentration levels. The findings from the present study may provide potentially life-saving information about elderly people.