Medication Related Bone Disease
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons are beginning to see a growing number of patients with symptoms of osteonecrosis of the jaws, an often painful condition characterized by exposed dead or dying bone in their jaws.
Biophosphonates are a class of drugs that prevent the loss of bone mass. High-potency intravenous biophosphonates have been shown to modify the progression of malignant bone disease in several forms of cancer, especially breast and frequently prostate cancer. Oral bisphosphonates are used to treat osteoporosis and other conditions that lead to bone fragility.