New research has found that even short-term use of a common type of drug used to treat osteoporosis may leave the jaw vulnerable to necrosis.
Pharmaceutical companies that oral bisphosphonates, such as Fosomax, have previously stated that the severe bone disease osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is only associated with intravenous use of bisphonates, and that the risk of ONJ with oral bisphosphonates is “negligible”. However, Parish Sedghizadeh, assistant professor of clinical dentistry with the University of Southern California School of Dentistry and colleagues found that 4% of patients taking oral bisphosphonates had ONJ.
“Four percent is not negligible,“ said Dr Sedghizadeh. “Here at the School of Dentistry we’re getting two or three new patients a week that have bisphosphonate-related ONJ and I know we’re not the only ones seeing it.”
Sedghizadeh PP, Stanley K, Caligiuri M, Hofkes S, Lowry B, Shuler CF. Oral bisphosphonate use and the prevalence of osteonecrosis of the jaw: An institutional inquiry. J Am Dent Assoc. 2009;140:61-66.
News Release: Dentist Links Fosomax-type Drugs to Jaw Necrosis. University of Southern California. December 21st 2008.
