Dentist may now be able to detect more than just tooth decay on dental X-rays. British researchers have developed computer software that checks images of the lower jaw for early signs of osteoporosis.
"The technique uses X-rays already taken for dental reasons, so it is 'something for nothing'," says software designer Keith Horner, a professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the university of Manchester. The software is not a replacement for DXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) - the gold standard for diagnosing osteoporosis but sound an alarm. "many women don't find out they have osteoporosis until it is too late." says Horner. "Our test can be seen as "opportunistic" case -finding of women that might never be diagnosed until they developed a fracture."
Dentists in the UK expect to introduce this screening as early as next year. Asia may have no longer.
"The technique uses X-rays already taken for dental reasons, so it is 'something for nothing'," says software designer Keith Horner, a professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the university of Manchester. The software is not a replacement for DXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) - the gold standard for diagnosing osteoporosis but sound an alarm. "many women don't find out they have osteoporosis until it is too late." says Horner. "Our test can be seen as "opportunistic" case -finding of women that might never be diagnosed until they developed a fracture."
Dentists in the UK expect to introduce this screening as early as next year. Asia may have no longer.
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