Potential for Opportunistic Osteoporosis Screening Using Dental Cone-Beam Computed Tomography

Osteoporosis is a health condition that primarily affects postmenopausal women, resulting in increased bone fragility and susceptibility to fractures. About one in two elderly women suffer from an osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime. The most common way to screen for osteoporosis is by measuring bone mineral density (BMD) using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Screening for osteoporosis is critical to identify those who are likely to respond positively to treatment. However, large portions of the population do not undergo the DEXA test. Given that most elderly people frequently visit their dentist, where X-rays are often taken, the possibility of simultaneously screening for osteoporosis is a promising field. The purpose of this research was to investigate the feasibility of opportunistic screening of osteoporosis using dental cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). In this presentation, I will discuss my findings, along with the challenges of the current technology and the potential for future improvements.