Osteoporosis and the jaws: questions remain to be answered

Osteoporosis is a major health issue in later life, which translates the age-associated increased risk of falls into a hip, shoulder or wrist fracture. The same pathology may result in vertebral crush fracture after minor loading of the axial skeleton. The health burden is enormous. Over a five year period, 10% of the female population of the United Kingdom, over 70 years of age, will suffer a fractured femoral neck, from which up to 20% may die and only a third of the survivors will be fully mobile at six months.