Osteoporosis and your Dentist (part 1)

Osteoporosis (reduction in bone mass due to depletion of calcium and bone protein) affects more than 10 million Americans over the age of 50, and more than 34 million are at risk for the disease. One out of every two women will sustain an osteoporosis-related fracture in her lifetime. Each year, osteoporisis causes 1.5 million new fractures. Of these fractures, 250,000 are hip fractures resulting in mortality rates exceeding 20 percent in women and 30 percent in men, recurrent hospitalizations, increased office visits and often the need for care at extended treatment facilities. In indiviuals who have hip fractures, less than 25 percent of them regain full function. Talk to your doctor if you think you might be at risk for osteoporosis and ask about the benefits of oral bisphosphonates (like fosamax, actonel, and boniva).