More than a scan. The information you actually need.
DXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) is the gold standard for measuring bone density. It's a quick, painless, non-invasive scan that uses very low levels of X-rays to determine how dense your bones are.
The scan typically measures bone density at the hip and spine—the most common sites for osteoporotic fractures. Results are reported as a T-score, which compares your bone density to that of a healthy 30-year-old adult.
A DXA scan takes about 10-15 minutes and requires no special preparation. It's the essential first step in understanding your bone health and fracture risk.
Most DXA scans are limited by insurance rules, not by what's best for your bone health. At The Bone Health Clinic, we do things differently.
We don't let insurance companies dictate what we measure. Instead, we perform the most comprehensive DXA evaluation available—because better information leads to better decisions.
A standard DXA often looks at only one or two areas. That approach can miss critical information about fracture risk, bone quality, and silent vertebral fractures.
At The Bone Health Clinic, your DXA is designed to give you a complete picture of your skeletal health—not just a number.
Our comprehensive DXA evaluation may include:
This level of detail allows us to identify risk earlier, personalize treatment, and avoid false reassurance.
DXA is operator-dependent. How the scan is performed—and how it is interpreted—directly affects accuracy.
When tracking bone density over time or establishing a baseline, consistency and reliability matter more than a single number.
"It's like stepping on a different scale every year—your weight may look different even if nothing has changed."
Because we make important treatment decisions based on these measurements, having your DXA performed on the same machine, using the same technique, with expert oversight is essential.
That's why we strongly recommend establishing and following your DXA measurements at The Bone Health Clinic.
Your scan is performed by a specially trained DXA technologist, ensuring precision and consistency.
But we don't stop there.
Every scan is:
We take the time to help you understand what your results mean, why they matter, and what to do next.
Bone density alone doesn't tell the whole story.
Trabecular Bone Score (TBS) is an advanced measurement derived from your spine DXA that evaluates bone quality and microarchitecture.
Think of it this way:
How much bone you have
How well that bone is built
Two people can have the same bone density but very different fracture risk based on TBS.
TBS helps us:
Certain conditions—such as diabetes, chronic steroid use, inflammatory disease, hormonal disorders, or prior fractures—can negatively affect bone quality even when bone density appears normal. In these cases, TBS often reveals higher fracture risk that would otherwise go unrecognized.
Getting your DXA done correctly the first time matters.
At The Bone Health Clinic, your DXA is not just a test.
It is the foundation of your bone health strategy.
This is what informed bone health care looks like.
Choose the scan that fits your goals. All options include a detailed results report. Add a provider review to walk through your results and build a personalized next steps plan.
Bone Density or Body Comp
Full DXA + Fit-3D Package
Using insurance? Book a visit. Your first visit includes a comprehensive DXA.
Self-pay prices. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate of expected charges. Learn more
No. Our DXA scans are available through direct access. You can book your scan without a referral. If you need documentation for your outside physician, we can provide a copy of your results report.
No special preparation is required. Wear comfortable clothing without metal hardware (avoid underwire bras, belts, or jeans with metal rivets if possible). Do not take calcium supplements within 24 hours of your scan. Eat and drink normally.
We scan every new patient on our own scanner because a complete DXA, with fracture assessment and bone quality, gives your provider a consistent baseline to track you over time. Scans from different machines can't be compared reliably. We'll check your coverage before your visit and talk with you about any cost before anything is done. Please don't let this keep you from booking.
Our DXA includes measurements that are often skipped in insurance-limited settings: Trabecular Bone Score, Vertebral Fracture Assessment, and optional body composition analysis. Every scan is reviewed by a physician with subspecialty expertise in bone health, not just a radiologist reading from a distance. You receive a full results review, not just a printout.
Results are reviewed with you at the time of your visit if you add the provider results review. If you select the scan only, your detailed results report is provided digitally following your appointment.
DXA results are machine-specific. Comparing a scan from one machine to a scan from a different machine introduces significant measurement uncertainty. Small apparent changes can represent machine differences rather than true bone changes. For meaningful serial monitoring, your baseline and all follow-up scans should be performed on the same machine, using the same technique.
Body composition DXA provides a detailed breakdown of fat mass, lean muscle mass, visceral fat, and regional distribution throughout your body. This data is clinically meaningful for monitoring the effects of exercise, nutrition, or medication on your body composition over time, far more precise than weight alone.
