MRONJ
Medication Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw
You may have been prescribed a drug by your general medical practitioner as part of treatment for osteoporosis or another condition. These drugs are known as Anti-resorptives. The primary goal of an Anti-resorptive medication is to reduce bone bone turnover. Antiresorptives can lead to a condition in the jaws which doesn't heal. This can occur, spontaneously, after dental surgery or because of a dental or periodontal (gum) infection. If this condition develops it is difficult to treat and may require surgery by an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon.
Publications about the risks of taking anti-resorptive medications
The management of patients on denusomab for osteoporosis requiring dental extractions.
484 patients had 963 extractions and were advised to delay any extractions until after six months from their last injection of denusomab. They were also advised to delay their next injection for four weeks after their extraction to allow the socket to heal. There were 10 cases of MRONJ. These patients were all over 70 and nine of 10 were female. Nine of the ten had been on denusomab with or without prior oral bisphosphonates for greater than 4 years with the other being severely immune compromised. Four had their extractions prior to six months after their last injection and two had their next injection within two weeks of the extraction. Hence the advice not to delay denusomab resulted in six of the 10 cases of MRONJ.