en Dentistry Dentistry Original Article Original Article <span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="color:#0000FF;"><strong><em>Background</em></strong><em>:</em></span> Osteoporosis is a common disease of old age. The present study used digital radiography to determine the effects of <em>equisetum arvense</em> extract on the bone mineral density (BMD) of experimental rats<span dir="RTL">.</span><br> <span style="color:#0000FF;"><strong><em>Methods</em></strong><em>:</em> </span>In this experimental study, 25 male and 25 female Wistar rats, aged three weeks old and weighing 100 grams, were randomly divided into five groups: (1) control group, (2) calcium/vitamin D group, (3) 60 mg/kg <em>equisetum arvense</em> extract group, (4) 90 mg/kg <em>equisetum arvense</em> extract group and (5) 120 mg/kg <em>equisetum arvense </em>extract group. Rats received these diets for 30 days. The spongy bone density was measured in the maxilla and mandible using digital radiography and the serum levels of calcium, vitamin D and phosphorus were measured at baseline and after 30 days. The data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey test.<br> <span style="color:#0000FF;"><strong><em>Results</em></strong><em>:</em></span> There was no significant difference between serum calcium and phosphorus levels in the five groups before and after 30 days. The serum vitamin D in the group receiving calcium and vitamin D was significantly higher than in the other groups (with average values of 24.7, 61.7, 23.47, 23.95 and 39.16 in the male groups 1 to 5 and 29.0, 85.07, 31.58, 42.34 and 18.83 in the female groups 1 to 5, respectively (p<0.001). Moreover, the increased mandibular BMD in the 120 mg/kg <em>equisetum arvense</em> group was significantly higher than in the control group (p<0.01).<br> <span style="color:#0000FF;"><strong><em>Conclusion</em></strong><em>:</em> </span>A diet containing 120 mg/kg <em>equisetum arvense</em> extract resulted in increased mandibular bone mineral density.</span></span> Equisetum Arvense, Osteoporosis, Bone Mineral density, Digital Radiography 176 182 http://caspjim.com/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1188-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Nazanin Arbabzadegan n.arbabzadegan@gmail.com 100319475328460016814 100319475328460016814 No Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Science, Babol, Iran Ali Akbar Moghadamnia moghadamnia@gmail.com 100319475328460016815 100319475328460016815 No Neuroscience Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran Shohrab Kazemi 100319475328460016816 100319475328460016816 No Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Science, Babol, Iran Farideh Nozari 100319475328460016817 100319475328460016817 Yes Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Science, Babol, Iran Ehsan Moudi e.moudi@mubabol.ac.ir 100319475328460016818 100319475328460016818 No Oral Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Science, Babol, Iran Sina Haghanifar dr_haghanifar@yahoo.com 100319475328460016819 100319475328460016819 No Oral Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Science, Babol, Iran