Dental Health and Osteoporosis Medications
Monday, July 13th, 2009
Medications you take for osteoporosis can have an impact on your dental health
Recent news reports have alarmed and confused dentists, as well as people who take bisphosphonates (bis-fos-fo-nates). That is because a condition known as osteonecrosis (os-tee-oh-ne-kro-sis) of the jaw (also know as OJN) has been reported in some patients who have taken these medications. Bisphosphonate associated osteonecrosis of the jaw, or BON, is a rare but serious condition that can cause severe damage to the jawbones.
Since there is so much confusion on the subject I wanted to give you a brief overview of the current recommendations and suggestions of what to consider.
First, this is a real event. However, the overwhelming majority of people (94%) diagnosed with BON are cancer patients who are receiving or did receive repeated high doses of bisphosphonates through intravenous (IV) infusion. The other 6% of people with BON were taking oral bisphosphonates for treatment of their osteoporosis.
Given this information there are practical matters to consider. First, osteoporosis and broken bones are serious. The statistics around hip fractures and mortality in people over 50 are somewhat frightening. Studies indicate that in many people, bisphosphonate medication can help reduce the chance of broken bones by increasing bone density. Some reports indicate that these medications may reduce the chance of hip fracture by 50% in people with osteoporosis.
So, like everything in life, there are risks and rewards. In the instance of osteoporosis, the benefits of these medications greatly outweigh the low risk of developing BON. Bottom line, if you are taking bisphosphonate medication, don’t go off your meds unless you have had a serious conversation with your physician. Practically speaking, if systemic conditions permit, initiation of bisphosphonate therapy should be delayed until dental health is optimized. It is imperative that the decision is made in conjunction with your treating physician and oncologist.
Once again, regular dental visits and excellent oral hygiene practices may be the best way to reduce your risk.
