Some osteoporosis drugs (bisphosphonates) have been linked to osteonecrosis of the jaw. What is osteonecrosis, who gets it, and how can it be prevented?
Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a condition in which the bone tissue in the jaw fails to heal after minor trauma such as a tooth extraction. Surgery may be required to remove the dying bone tissue. Symptoms include pain, swelling, loosening of teeth and poor gum healing. News releases on the link between ONJ and osteoporosis drugs began to appear in the general press in 2005. Osteonecrosis is rare and occurs primarily after tooth extraction in cancer patients who have received high doses of the intravenous bisphosphonates (pamidronate or zoledronate). A few cases have been reported in patients who have taken Fosamax (alendronate) or Actonel (risedronate). Most of these cases occurred after dental procedures in patients who had taken the drug for more than five years. Good dental hygiene, avoidance of overdoses of bisphosphonates, and doing dental surgery before initiating bisphosphonate therapy are ways to prevent bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis. Any drug taken in excess can cau
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