Work

Inflammaging in periodontal, periapical, and malignancy-associated disease: drivers of alveolar bone loss and repair

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Aging significantly impacts bone metabolism through altered osteoblast/osteoclast dynamics, reduced stem cell regeneration, and chronic inflammaging. This narrative review explores how these age-related changes influence alveolar bone loss and regeneration in the oral cavity. METHODS: The review investigates key mechanisms-including immunosenescence and inflammasome activation-across three specific pathological contexts: (1) periodontitis, (2) periapical bone resorption, and (3) malignancy-associated osteolysis. Preclinical and clinical evidence were integrated to analyze the bone-immune equilibrium. RESULTS: Aging was found to skew the immune environment, exacerbating bone destruction. The review identifies emerging immunomodulatory strategies to rejuvenate bone healing, such as targeting senescent cells (senolytics) and inflammatory cytokines to modulate the immune microenvironment. CONCLUSION: Addressing the unique challenges of the aging population is critical for regenerative dentistry. Future research must bridge current gaps to translate immunomodulatory insights into clinical therapies for improving alveolar bone regeneration in older patients.

Source: Journal of Bone and Mineral Metabolism

DOI: 10.1007/s00774-026-01706-2

Authors: Meircurius Dwi Condro Surboyo, Kridtapat Sirisereephap, Tomoki Maekawa

Institutions: Universitas Airlangga, Niigata University, Chulalongkorn University

Language: English

Topic: Bone Metabolism and Diseases

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,790