Bone density scans, also known as DEXA scans, become important for aging patients to assess bone health and diagnose conditions like osteoporosis. The non-invasive scans use x-ray technology to measure mineral density in bones. During the brief, painless procedure, a patient lies still while a low-dose scanner images their hips and legs. The scan results help determine if patients are at risk for osteoporosis and fractures as their bones lose calcium over time.