Dr. Bob Bressman hosted a group of dental professionals at his office to review and discuss current research being done at the University of Southern California San Diego. I was happy to attend. Parish Sedghizadeh, DDS, MS, has been involved in multi-disciplinary research studying the effects of nitrogenous bisphosphonates on oral surgery. Fosamax is one of these drugs which is being used by many of our patients. We reviewed a video lecture of his during this meeting.
According to preliminary research being done at USCSD, there is about a 4% risk of developing osteo necrosis of the jaw [ONJ] when nitrogenous bisphosphonates have been taken for a long period of time [many months or years] when there is at least one other factor compromising the patient's health [diabetes, periodontal disease, ...]. Dental extractions are the primary procedures which can lead to ONJ. This seems to be a problem primarily associated with nitrogenous bisphosphonates and not with non-nitrogenous bisphosphonates.
I attended another meeting last October, sponsored by a drug company, which led me to believe that this was much less of a problem than the independent research noted above is now indicating.
If you are taking drugs to treat osteoporosis please let your dentist know.
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