Dental X-rays help detect osteoporosis

A computer program that analyses routine dental X-rays could offer a simple, cheap way to detect osteoporosis. Researchers from the University of Manchester found that a software program they developed was able to spot signs of declining bone density in dental X-rays of the lower jaw a potential sign of osteoporosis. The findings suggest that routine dental X-rays could provide an inexpensive way to provide wide screening of older adults for osteoporosis. Those with signs of bone thinning in the jaw could be referred for more expensive osteoporosis testing. In the U.S., the Preventive Services Task Force recommends that all women age 65 or older be screened for osteoporosis the gold standard for screening is a relatively expensive test called dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Medicare will pay for this test every two years. In the UK, the national health system currently has no program for osteoporosis screening. This means that many people with the disease most often older women won't know that they have it until they suffer a fracture.The researchers analysed bone X-rays of 652 European women between the ages of 45 and 70. All of the women underwent DXA, as well as panoramic dental X-rays, which show the whole jaw. The DXA tests found osteoporosis in the hip or spine in 140 women. Analysis of dental X-rays picked up more than half of these cases.More work is needed before dental X-rays become part of osteoporosis screening. There is a need to find out the attitude of patients and doctors to this new role of dentists identifying patients they suspect of being at high risk of osteoporosis. The next step will be for an X-ray equipment company to take to the idea and integrate the software into its products.