bone turnover test

• By SWF
• Reply 3500848
• October 30, 2012 at 6:32 am
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after learning that I had been on actonel and xrays revealed bone infection behind the tooth , my dentist referred me to a specialist surgeon at the dental hospital, who ordered the blood test before proceeding with the extraction
the only reference I have is on the copy of the results
female reference ranges (CTx ng/L)
pre menopausal <570
post menopausal without HRT <1010

I don't pretend to understand it but I hope the specialist knows what he's on about and if he thinks this is a good measure of how well the bone is going to heal, then I thought this test would be beneficial along side the BMD

• By chalk
• Reply 3501276
• October 30, 2012 at 11:31 am
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I am thinking the "specialist surgeon at a dental hospital" is an oral surgeon? I asked an osteoporosis specialist what he thought and he feels none of these tests are proven to predict bone loss or even bone building success aside from dexa scans. he felt it might have been more protective or informational for them than for you. But everyone has an opinion and it didnt hurt you so good luck with the dental work.

• By SWF
• Reply 3502595
• October 30, 2012 at 6:37 pm
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you are thinking right, I saw an oral surgeon because he was the best to deal with extractions after bisphophonates
I don't believe he would have done the CTx test if it didn't tell him anything .
I have never heard of an 'osteoporosis expert', what ever he is,he is right ...there is no test the predicts bone loss
or bone building success especially the Dexa which can only measure bone density.