Description

Sponsor comments: 1:30 - 1:34 p.m. (not included in CE credit)

Low bone mineral density (BMD) is a significant health concern for people living longer, with osteoporosis and osteopenia being the primary diseases. As bone mass naturally declines with age, an aging population faces an increased risk of fractures, disability, and reduced quality of life. This year’s Genco Symposium will feature two speakers: Dr. Karl Jepsen and Dr. Devorah Schwartz-Arad.

Dr. Jepsen will discuss the limitations of current methodologies such as dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in early recognition of reduced bone strength and increased fracture risk. He will present an analysis of data collected from four longitudinal studies with repeated hip dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans of women and men over 10-15 years of follow-up. We identified unique patterns of age-related structural changes with different biomechanical implications within these populations of women and men. Our results provide evidence that age-related structural changes are heterogeneous within populations of women and men and that a simple biomarker can improve our ability to identify individuals at increased risk of fracturing their hip.

Dr. Schwartz-Arad will discuss the implications of surgically treating patients on bone-sparing medications, the pharmacology of these drugs and provide evidence-based protocols for balancing surgical healing and osteoporosis management in patients receiving this medication.

Thanks to Crest + Oral-B and GUM for sponsoring this year's Robert J. Genco's Symposium!

Educational Objectives

• • Provide clinicians with a biological perspective on the dynamics of bone remodeling, and patterns of skeletal tissue aging.
• • Understand the heterogeneity in risk of decreased bone density in men and women.
• • Provide clinicians with an evidence-based protocol for safely planning oral surgical procedures in patients receiving denosumab, balancing surgical healing and osteoporosis management.
• • Compare the pharmacologic profiles of denosumab and bisphosphonates in the context of oral surgery risk, highlighting the clinical advantages of Prolia in scheduling and predictability.

CE Hours: 1.5