Dentists may notice signs of osteoporosis first

Your dentist may be the first health professional to suspect you have osteoporosis – and refer you to a physician to confirm a diagnosis. Osteoporosis, a bone disorder, weakens bones by reducing their density. The disease affects 10 million Americans, with 34 million more suffering from low bone density and at risk of the disease. Although the disease may strike either gender at any age, women over age 50 have the highest incidence of the disease.

Unfortunately, most patients are not diagnosed with osteoporosis until their bone density has decreased to the point that a major fracture occurs. However, people with low bone mass may experience oral health problems that their dentist may detect and recognize as the first stages of osteoporosis.

Signs of osteoporosis

Your dentist may be able to detect the first stages of osteoporosis based on a review of your medical history and the results of a comprehensive clinical and x-ray examination. Your medical history will provide information about risk factors such as heredity (genetics), calcium deficiency, smoking, menopause, excessive caffeine or alcohol intake and an inactive lifestyle. Dental x-rays may indicate a decrease in the density of the jawbone and the bone around the teeth from year to year and show advancing stages of the disease. In addition, there are several signs that alert dentists to the possibility of osteoporosis:

• Bone loss in the jaw and around teeth. This may be a sign of bone loss in other parts of the body.
• Tooth loss. Studies support the hypothesis that people with low bone mineral density tend to lose more teeth.
• Loose or ill-fitting dentures. Bone loss may become so severe that it may be impossible to create functional dentures. Without the aid of dentures to chew many types of food, older patients may suffer severe nutritional deficiencies. In addition, ill-fitting dentures can lead to mouth sores and difficulty speaking.
• Gum disease. Gum disease contributes to bone loss and may provide a clue to the diagnosis of an underlying disease such as osteoporosis.

Tips on preventing osteoporosis

In addition to scheduling regular dentist visits, you can help prevent osteoporosis with the following actions:

• Get enough calcium each day through diet (dairy, calcium-fortified foods, broccoli and almonds) or supplements (women: 1,200mg; men: 800mg; anyone over age 65: 1,500mg).
• Add vitamin D to your diet.
• Exercise (especially weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercises).
• Quit smoking.
• Decrease your caffeine and alcohol intake.

If you or your dentist suspects you have osteoporosis, be sure to visit your primary health care practitioner as soon as possible. There are new medications available for prevention as well as treatment of osteoporosis, and early intervention is the key to managing both your oral and overall health.

The oral health information on this web site is intended for educational purposes only. You should always consult a licensed dentist or other qualified health care professional for any questions concerning your oral health.