ABSTRACT
Osteoporosis is a disease that is characterized by low bone mass, microarchitectural disruption, poor bone strength and an increase in the risk of fracture. Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease of humans. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of osteoporosis. A fracture is considered related to osteoporosis if it occurs with relatively low force such as a ground level fall, which would not be expected to cause a fracture in a young healthy patient. The treatment of osteoporosis requires a multi-modal approach that includes diet, exercise and avoidance of smoking. Pharmacological treatment of osteoporosis can be divided into two general categories: antiresorptive agents, who act primarily on bone resorption, or anabolic agents, which act on bone formation. Bisphosphonates are commonly used agents in both the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Fluoride has been evaluated as a potential anabolic agent for osteoporosis treatment.
