In a previous study, Swedish researchers had already shown that a structure of bones scattered in the trabecular bone of the lower jaw is associated with an increased likelihood of having previously suffered fractures in other parts of the body.
Now they have taken a step further with a new work shows that it is possible the use of dental radiographs to investigate the structure of the lower jaw bone, and predict who is at increased risk for future fracture .
"We have seen that the structure of the scattered bones in the lower jaw in the middle of life is directly related to the risk of fractures in other parts of the body in the future," says Lauren Lissner.
40 years of follow-up
The study began in 1968. During 40 years have looked at 731 women who have made films of his jawbone. The study shows that the structure of the jaw bone was low in almost 20% of women aged between 38 and 54 years, when he conducted the first review, and that these women had a significantly higher risk of fractures.
The study also indicates that the older the person, the stronger the link between the structure of the scattered bones in the jaw and fractures in other parts of the body.
The researchers note that although the study was conducted in women, researchers believe that the link is also applicable to men.
"Dental X-rays contain lots of information about bone structure," says Grethe Jonasson. By analyzing these images, dentists can identify people who are at increased risk of fractures, long before the first fracture. "
