Abstract: A dental radiographic absorptiometric device and method is provided that quantitatively measures the amount of bone of a patient in any dentist's office. Absorptiometric information simultaneously obtained from the mandible and calibration devices are used to screen patients for osteoporosis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the measurement of structural width and density with a CT scanner. The density of a particular structure is determined by establishing a radial density profile of a structure, identifying a peak density value along said density profile, interpolating a first curve of density versus width from a point defined by the structural width and the peak density value, and identifying a maximum density value of said first curve to establish a structural density value. The width of the structure is determined by identifying first and second radial positions corresponding to respective points on said radial density profile where the profile rises above and falls below first and second threshold values, measuring a difference between said first radial position and said second radial position, and determining the width of the structure as a function of the measured difference.