Healthy living
Body matters
Dentists may pick up osteoporosis
Ordinary dental X-rays can help to identify people suffering from osteoporosis whose condition might otherwise not be diagnosed until they break a bone
Researchers at the School of Dentistry at the University of Manchester have developed state-of-the-art software that detects osteoporosis during routine dental check-ups.
As an X-ray is taken, the software automatically measures the thickness of part of the lower jaw. If the bone is thinner than it should be, the dentist is automatically informed that the patient may have the condition.
There is currently no routine screening programme for osteoporosis in the UK and the disease is often only detected after someone has suffered a fall and broken a bone. People considered to be at high risk may be referred to hospital by their GP and offered the gold-standard test, which is known as the Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scan.
The Manchester team first tested 652 women for osteoporosis using the DXA scan. This identified 140 sufferers. The same group were then given the automated X-ray test and over half of those with osteoporosis were detected.
Professor Horner, author of the report published in the journal, Bone, concluded: "This cheap, simple and largely-automated approach could be carried out by every dentist taking routine X-rays, yet the success rate is as good as having a specialist consultant on hand."
Osteoporosis affects roughly 15 per cent of women in their fifties in the UK. By the age of 80, almost 70 per cent of women are at risk. Women lose bone material more rapidly than men, especially after the menopause when the level of oestrogen falls.
Risk factors include:
- Menopause before the age of 45
- Family history of osteoporosis
- Underweight for your height
- Smoking
- Lack of calcium and/or vitamin D (due to a poor diet and/or little exposure to sunlight)
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Certain medical conditions that can affect the bones
Calcium and vitamin D are important for bone health. The recommended daily intake for calcium in adults is 700 mg
Stop smoking
Cut down on alcohol
Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.