Jennifer Matthews: Evelyn Stapler works with weights to regain strength after knee surgery. Osteoporosis has made her bones fragile, and she wants to prevent more from breaking.
Evelyn Stapler: I couldn't walk. I sat most of the time. I couldn't do the things I wanted to do.
Jennifer Matthews: Evelyn and other women like her take risedronate, a drug that helps prevent bone loss. Now, a new study shows it could also help your teeth.
Dr. Leena Palomo: The effect of periodontal disease is if the bony socket that holds your tooth in place gets eaten up by the disease, so your teeth are basically surrounded by no bone. They get loose and wiggly, and they fall out.
Jennifer Matthews: Dr. Leena Palomo studied 60 postmenopausal women. X-rays showed those who took risedronate had less bone loss around the teeth.
Hanka Brown has gingivitis -- she's at risk for periodontal disease. This drug could one day help women like her.
Hanka Brown: I think it's important because you want to keep your teeth, as many as possible, as long as possible, she says.
Dr. Leena Palomo: If risedronate can help you maintain that bone, then it really helps the disease.
Jennifer Matthews: An extra bonus for women hoping to beat two health problems with just one treatment. This is Jennifer Matthews reporting.
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