A
panoramic view through dental X-ray of a patient's mouth can be a useful tool for diagnose osteoporosis in the spine.According to Japanese researcher Akira Tagushi, department of maxillo-facial radiology at the University of Hiroshima, this technique can show that a patient has decreased bone mass density.
Since osteoporosis is a silent disease, showing no osteoporosis symptoms, the possibility of identifying the problem as soon as possible is another good reason for osteoporosis prevention.
To demonstrate that panoramic dental X-rays can be used to detect low bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women, Akira Tagushi has been monitoring 316 postmenopausal women who showed no osteoporosis symptoms.
Participants were divided into two groups: 157 had undergone a hysterectomy or ovariectomy, or had taken estrogen, while 159 others had no such history.
It took panoramic dental X-rays for all participants and assessed the state of cortical bone and width of their jaw after X-rays. The results indicated that women whose bones were eroded cortical should undergo tests DMO further.
At present, we rely heavily on questionnaires screening to identify women in need of BMD tests more accurate. The new study found that dental x-rays were just as effective as screening questionnaires.
The assessment of the state of cortical bone from the dental x-rays helped identify 87% of women with osteoporosis in the spine in the group without a history of hysterectomy, oophorectomy and " œstrogenotherapie.
This proportion was 80% in the other group. The questionnaire, it would detect 87% of cases of osteoporosis in women with no history and 72% of cases among women with history, "said Tagushi.
According to the researcher, dental X-rays are not as specific as questionnaires screening, especially if menopausal women are not well informed about osteoporosis or interested little problem.
However, since taking panoramic X-rays to diagnose problems dental and jaw is part of routine clinical practice throughout the world, the dentist could also examine the state of the mandibular cortical bone and recommend tests for women who DMO in need, advises he says.
Dentists and patients have an interest in becoming more attentive to the issues of osteoporosis. Another recent research on the disease shows that mortality rates due to hip fractures have not decreased in the last 20 years.
The staticien Stephen E Roberts and Professor of Public Health Michael J Goldacre, Oxford University, were followed by 32 590 persons aged 65 and older who have made hospitalized as a result of osteoporosis hip fractures between 1968 and 1998 .
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