Empiricus: our clinical journal commentator.

Australian Doctor,  March, 2007  

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By Empiricus

DENTISTS TO HELP IN FIGHT AGAINST OSTEOPOROSIS

Dentists might prove to be a secret weapon in the early recognition of osteoporosis, challenging the unkind perception that their interest in life ceases at the nasopharynx. A computer program is available to analyse the thickness of the mandibular cortex in the panoramic mouth X-rays dentists are fond of taking. The results correlate strongly with bone density at the femoral neck, and the measurement has good repeatability (Bone 2007; 40:835-42). An automated system might make it practical for osteoporosis risk to be ...

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