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2 JANUARY 2007 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dentists could detect osteoporosis, automatically

Researchers in The University of Manchester’s School of Dentistry and its Division of Imaging Sciences have developed a unique way of identifying osteoporosis sufferers, from ordinary dental x-rays.

The team has developed 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.

Osteoporosis affects almost 15% of Western women in their fifties, 22% in their sixties and 38.5% in their seventies. As many as 70% of women over 80 are at risk*, and over a third of adult women suffer bone fractures as a result of the condition.

Despite these figures and pressure from the EU to improve the identification of people at risk, wide-scale screening for the disease is not currently viable - largely due to the cost and scarcity of specialist equipment and staff.

X-rays are used widely in the NHS to examine wisdom teeth, gum disease and during general check-ups, and their use is on the rise. In 2005 almost 6000 were taken on female patients aged 65 or over in a single month, and the number has increased by 181% since 1981**.

To harness these high usage-rates, the EU-funded team - which also includes the Universities of Athens, Leuven, Amsterdam and Malmo - has drawn on ‘active shape modeling’ technology developed at Manchester.

This can be set to automatically detect jaw cortex widths of less than 3mm - a key indicator of osteoporosis - during standard x-ray processes, and alert the dentist.

Professor Keith Horner explained: “At the start of our study we tested 652 women for osteoporosis using the current ‘gold standard’, and highly expensive, DXA test. This identified 140 sufferers.

“Our automated X-ray test immediately flagged-up over half of these.

“The patients concerned may not otherwise have been tested for osteoporosis, and in a real-life situation would immediately be referred for conclusive DXA testing.

“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.”

Colleague Dr Hugh Devlin continued: “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.”

The team is extremely encouraged by its findings, which are now available online in the Elsevier journal Bone. They are keen to see the approach adopted within the NHS, with the next stage being for an x-ray equipment company to integrate the software with its products.

Dr Devlin continued: “Once the software is available to dentists we hope that entire primary care trusts might opt in. The test might even encourage older women to visit the dentist more regularly!”

- ENDS -

For further information or to arrange an interview please contact:

Jo Nightingale: 0161 275 ….

Images of dental x-rays showing an ‘at risk’ and ‘normal’ lower jaws are available upon request. Professor Horner and Dr Devlin are available for interview, photography and filming, and to demonstrate the software in action.

X-ray equipment companies interested in discussing the integration of this software with its products should also make contact via the press office.

Notes for Editors

"Automated osteoporosis risk assessment by dentists: a new pathway to diagnosis" is published in Bone (Elsevier) at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T4Y-4MMP2KK-1&_user=494590&_coverDate=12%2F22%2F2006&_alid=516026907&_rdoc=2&_fmt=full&_orig=search&_cdi=4987&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000024058&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=494590&md5=470be5e0211dd8cf102656740fdfb29c

* source: The World Health Organisation (1994)

** source: The Dental Practice Board (which processes financial claims for NHS dental treatment from dentists in England and Wales, 2005)

The University of Manchester (www.manchester.ac.uk) is the largest single-site higher education institution in the country, with 24 academic schools, over 5200 academic and research staff and around 36 000 students. It was awarded University of the Year by the Times Higher Educational Supplement in 2005 and The Sunday Times in 2006, and receives more undergraduate applications than any other UK university.

Manchester School of Dentistry has a strong track record as an innovator in teaching and learning, introducing an outreach programme as early as 1974 – some thirty years before most of its competitors. It is consistently rated as one of the best dental schools in the UK and was recently awarded maximum points in the Government’s Teaching Quality review, with special commendation for its student support, IT infrastructure and use of problem-based learning.

It comprises around 500 students and 40 academic staff, and conducts research with the overall aim of understanding the scientific basis of craniofacial and oral health. It incorporates two research themes:

o Health Sciences undertaking clinical trials, population-based studies and systematic reviews (includes the Dental Health Unit funded by Colgate-Palmolive and the NHS-funded Cochrane Oral Health Group)

o Basic Science, working in craniofacial research and biomaterials research and development for dentistry.

The School is committed to improving the health of the community, directly providing care via its Dental Hospital, outreach clinics in Greater Manchester and its strong links with local Primary Care Trusts.