A unique way of identifying osteoporosis sufferers from ordinary dental x-rays have been created by researchers in the School of Dentistry at The University of Manchester.

A three year, EU-funded collaboration with the Universities of Athens, Leuven, Amsterdam and Malmo, coordinated by Professor Keith Horner and Dr Hugh Devlin, led to the development of a revolutionary, software-based approach to detecting osteoporosis during routine dental x-rays, by automatically measuring the thickness of part of the patient's lower jaw.

Jaw cortex widths of less than 3mm - a key indicator of osteoporosis - during the x-ray process can automatically be detected on an 'active shape modeling' technology developed by the University's Division of Imaging Sciences, which should later then alert a dentist.

Explains Dr. Devlin:

"This cheap, simple and largely-automated approach could be carried out by every dentist taking routine x-rays, yet the success rate is as good as having a specialist consultant on hand.

As well as being virtually no extra work for the dentist, the diagnosis does not depend on patients being aware that they are at risk of the disease.

Just by introducing a simple tool and getting healthcare professionals working together, around two in five sufferers undertaking routine dental x-rays could be identified.

We're extremely encouraged by our findings, and keen to see the approach adopted within the NHS. The next stage will be for an x-ray equipment company to integrate the software with its products, and once it's available to dentists we'd hope that entire primary care trusts might opt in.

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