Osteoporosis is a major concern among woman today, while related fractures are a concern for the global community. According to the Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Sciences, The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in the U.K, Osteoporosis affects up to 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men over the age of 50 years old. Fracture rates are generally higher in caucasian women than in other populations. The spine, wrist and hip are the most common fractures caused by osteoporosis. Besides the injury to these people, it is a significant healthcare cost for the global community to treat these osteoporotic fractures. How can we screen for this condition and treat it before it becomes a costly healthcare concern for each individual?
It has been proven that it is possible to use dental panoramic radiographs to identify post-menopausal women with low skeletal bone mineral density (BMD) or osteoporosis. According to NCBI, the National Center for Biotechnology information, a computer-aided diagnosis system (CAD) can be used to screen woman and men for osteoporosis using dental panoramic x-rays. The width and shape of the lower jaw detected on panoramic x-rays are associated with bone mineral density of the spine and the femur. Panoramic x-rays of the lower and upper jaw also have predicted bone mineral density.
A dentist is very important in the screening for osteoporosis, the detection and referral of patients at a high risk of osteoporosis, it is also extremely important to maintain oral health maintenance in patients with osteoporosis as to prevent and treat periodontitis.
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