Multiple treatments for breast cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy, ovarian function suppression, oophorectomy, radiation therapy, and aromatase inhibitors, may accelerate bone loss and increase the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.
Measuring the bone density of the jaws usually reflects the occurrence of osteoporosis and the height of the mandibular alveolar bone also reflects the severity of osteoporosis. In menopausal breast cancer patients, physicians place more emphasis on the relationship between osteoporosis and oral disease because the rate of systemic bone loss correlates with the rate of tooth loss, and osteoporosis is a risk factor for periodontal disease.
Thus, before starting breast cancer treatment, physicians may recommend preventive oral examinations for early detection of osteoporosis and supplementation with calcium and vitamin D. In addition, for postmenopausal breast cancer patients on aromatase inhibitors, physicians may also recommend periodic evaluations, including BMD testing, to clarify the presence or absence of osteoporosis and to assess the risk of fracture.