
Osteoporosis is a systemic, debilitating disease of the skeleton, characterized by significantly decreased bone mass in combination with the deterioration of bone microarchitecture. This process results in weakened bone with a great propensity for fracture under low-energy stress. This book presents current research in the study of the risk factors, symptoms and management of osteoporosis. Topics include the influence of osteoporosis in oral health; assessment of risk fracture risk and therapeutic effects on osteoporosis; diagnosing future bone fracture; genetic and environmental factors in human osteoporosis; the pathogenesis of skeletal complications in patients with endogenous hypercorticism; genetic and postmenopausal osteoporosis risk; and severely suppressed bone turnover associated with bisphosphonate for osteoporosis.