Two separate studies suggest that dental X-rays are good for more than spotting cavities and other dental problems — they are also effective screening tools for strokes and osteoporosis.
One study, conducted by scientists at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Sepulvada, Calif., found that cephalometric X-rays, which are side views of the head commonly used to determine orthodontic treatment, could spot atherosclerotic lesions or a blockage in the carotid artery — the artery that carries blood to the brain.
An examination of X-rays of 1,063 healthy men between the ages of 25 and 85 found that 2 percent of them had visible blockages.
Lead researcher Dr. Arthur Friedlander recommended that dentists refer all patients with blocked carotid arteries, which often indicate underlying cardiac disease, to a physician.
In another study, researchers at the University of Washington School of Dentistry found that panoramic (rotates around the head, showing all of the teeth as well as the jaw) and periapical X-rays (shows several entire teeth along with part of the bone surrounding the root tips) of 111 women were just as good at diagnosing osteoporosis as standard techniques used to measure bone density.
"We found that using the pixel intensity and fractal dimension diagnosis of dental X-rays was just as effective as traditional diagnostic methods in measuring bone density," Dr. Anne-Marie Bollen, assistant professor, Department of Orthodontics at the University of Washington School of Dentistry, said in a statement.
Pixel intensity refers to the fineness of the X-ray image. Fine pixel intensity allows the dentist or physician to more easily evaluate bone density. Bollen said that dental X-rays offer advantages over other imaging techniques because they are common and are less expensive than other diagnostic imaging methods.
Osteoporosis is responsible for more than 1 million bone fractures each year in the United States. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, and the leading cause of long-term disability. According to the Internet Stroke Center, over 795,000 Americans suffer a stroke each year. Earlier diagnosis would allow those at risk of both osteoporosis and stroke to take preventive measures earlier.
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