“Bone-density tests are generally simple, painless and straightforward, and in a case where doctors are able to catch density loss early, they can make an enormous difference in a person’s long-term health,” says Nader Bakhos, M.D., orthopedic surgeon at Riverview Medical Center. “But providers are only able to make that catch if people take the time to get tested.”

The most common form of a bone-density test works by scanning a person using X-ray technology to measure the presence of calcium and other minerals in the patient’s bones. Often called DEXA scans (short for Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), the tests are typically conducted in radiology offices. Here’s how it works:

The test results are reported using a system called a T-score that compares a patient’s bone density to that of a healthy young adult. Scores often are reported as negative numbers, and higher numbers are better: 

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