Improving inter-professional communication among medical and dental providers treating bisphosphonate therapy patients may reduce the risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw

Dischler, Tena; Alexander, Jeffrey L.; Curtis, Denice; Markson, Michael

doi:10.13189/ujcm.2014.020201

Improving inter-professional communication among medical and dental providers treating bisphosphonate therapy patients may reduce the risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw

Dischler, T., Alexander, J. L., Curtis, D., & Markson, M. (2014). Improving inter-professional communication among medical and dental providers treating bisphosphonate therapy patients may reduce the risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw. Universal Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2(2), 35-42. doi:10.13189/ujcm.2014.020201

Details

Title: Improving inter-professional communication among medical and dental providers treating bisphosphonate therapy patients may reduce the risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw
Contributor(s): Dischler, Tena (author)
Alexander, Jeffrey L. (author)
Curtis, Denice (author)
Markson, Michael (author)
Located In: Universal journal of clinical medicine
ISSN: 2331-964X
Date: 2014
DOI: 10.13189/ujcm.2014.020201
Use/Reproduction: 2014 Horizon Research Publishing
Abstract: While large clinical trials have shown rare adverse side effects in post-menopausal women taking uninterrupted oral bisphosphonates (BPs), there is mounting evidence that longer-term treatment may be associated with osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). There is a paucity of information regarding the causal relationship between extended oral BP treatment and ONJ, and the safety of non-surgical therapy of apical lesions and length of treatment in women on long-term BPs. We describe a post-menopausal woman on long-term oral BPs who developed ONJ without any contributory risk factors. Quantitative data was gathered through review of the patient’s medical record. Qualitative data was gathered from face-to-face interviews with patient and clinician. Analysis of the data revealed the patient did not feel it was important to report her use of BPs. Given the wide usage of antiresorptives dental clinicians should manage all post-menopausal women with the assumption they currently or have recently been treated with BPs. There is a need for a collaborative effort by medical and dental practitioners to reduce risk of ONJ, ensure proper BP dosing and length of treatment, identify contributory risk factors, and explore alternate modalities, such as Ca(OH)2 multi-visit palliative pulpectomy, to avert ONJ and improve treatment outcomes.
Subject(s): Bisphosphonates
Antiresorptives
Osteonecrosis of the Jaw
ONJ
Pulpectomy