How often should I get a bone density scan?
Here's the point
For most people, the honest answer is every 1 to 2 years. DEXA machines have a built-in measurement error, and most facilities can't reliably detect a real change in bone density sooner than that — a small shift of 1-2% on your scan often just reflects machine noise, not actual bone loss or gain. Your physician can tell you the right interval for your specific situation.
Every DEXA machine has a margin of error called the Least Significant Change, which is typically around 3 to 5 percent at the spine and a bit more at the hip, depending on the facility. If your scan shows a change smaller than that, the most honest interpretation is usually "no detectable change" rather than concluding you're losing or gaining bone. Because of this, 12 to 24 months is generally the interval at which a real, measurable change can actually be seen.
A practical tip: try to get rescanned on the same machine at the same facility each time. Comparing results across different machines adds error rather than reducing it, since each machine has its own calibration and precision. If you ever switch facilities, it's worth asking the new one for their Least Significant Change figure so you know what size of shift would actually mean something.
There's also a newer option called REMS (Radiofrequency Echographic Multi Spectrometry), which uses ultrasound instead of X-ray and can be repeated more often since it doesn't involve radiation. It shows good agreement with DEXA in published studies, but it has less long-term outcome data, so if you already have a history of DEXA scans, it's sensible to keep those going too so your records stay comparable.
Beyond the scan itself, it helps to build a one-page record you keep for yourself: scan dates and facility, your T-score and Z-score at each site, the facility's precision error if they'll share it, any fracture history, and relevant blood work like vitamin D or PTH. Bring this to your physician and ask directly when they recommend re-measuring — that decision, like any related to your bone health management, belongs with your prescriber or physician based on your personal risk and history.
Know these words
A DEXA scan is a low-radiation X-ray test that measures how much mineral is in your hip and spine bones, giving you…
Least Significant Change (LSC) is the smallest change in a DEXA scan result that's big enough to count as real,…
A T-score shows how your bone density compares to a healthy young adult, measured in standard deviations, and it's…
A Z-score compares your bone density to other people your own age and sex, which matters most for younger adults,…
REMS is an ultrasound-based scan that estimates bone density and tissue quality at the spine and hip without using…
Bone mineral density (BMD) measures how much mineral is packed into your bones, usually estimated with a DEXA scan,…
How sure is this?
Graded Strong Clinical Evidence: Supported by multiple well-designed clinical studies in humans. Read each study with its grade in mind. One study is a piece of the picture, not the whole of it.
The lessons behind this answer
More on tests and numbers
A T-score compares your bone density to that of a healthy young adult, measured in standard deviations: -1.0 and above is normal, -1.0 to -2.5 is osteopenia, and -2.5 or below is osteoporosis. But it's just one snapshot of density — it doesn't capture bone quality, your fall risk, or your overall fracture probability, so it's worth tracking several other things alongside it and discussing them with your physician.
Read the full answer →Osteopenia and osteoporosis are both based on your DEXA T-score, just at different points on the same scale. A T-score between -1.0 and -2.5 is called osteopenia (lower-than-average bone mineral density), while -2.5 or below is called osteoporosis (more significant bone loss). They're not two different diseases — they're a continuum, and the cut-off points are statistical conventions used for research and reimbursement, not a biological cliff where something suddenly changes in your skeleton.
Read the full answer →A T-score compares your bone density to that of a healthy young adult at peak bone mass, and it's the number used to apply the standard categories of normal, osteopenia, or osteoporosis. A Z-score instead compares you to people of your own age and sex, which makes it the more appropriate number for anyone premenopausal, for men under 50, and for children, since a T-score can be misleading in those groups.
Read the full answer →A DEXA scan uses a low dose of X-ray to measure bone mineral density at the hip and spine, and it's the long-established standard that generates your T-score. A REMS scan uses ultrasound instead of radiation to assess the same areas, comparing the echo signal to reference models to produce its own T-score (not directly interchangeable with a DEXA T-score) plus a separate "fragility score" reflecting tissue quality. REMS is newer, has less long-term data, and is best used alongside DEXA rather than replacing it, especially if you already have a DEXA history.
Read the full answer →CTX and P1NP are blood tests that show how fast your bone remodeling is happening right now, rather than where your bone density stands. CTX reflects how quickly bone is being broken down, and P1NP reflects how quickly new bone is being built. Unlike a density scan, which takes a year or more to show change, these markers can shift within weeks to months, so they're useful for tracking your own trend over time.
Read the full answer →Have a question that isn't here? Ask us at your next visit, or ask our AI bone health advisor.
Education only, not medical advice. Decisions about tests, medications and treatment belong with your own doctor. OsteoStrong does not diagnose, treat or cure any disease.
