Do bone density tests use x-rays?
Almost all bone density tests use small amounts of x-rays to measure the amount of bone. The exception to this are the new ultrasound machines that measure bone at the heel or in the leg, but these are only used for a “peripheral” bone test and are not used to monitor changes in the bone with therapy. The amount of x-rays used by all other bone density tests are less than chest x-rays or dental x-rays, and substantially less than for a mammogram or conventional x-rays of the spine.
