Dentistry

Abstract

Oral Bisphosphonates And Relationship To ONJ And Dental Implants

Pouran Famili

Osteoporosis is a multifactorial, systemic skeletal disease generally affecting older females. It reduces bone mineral density and decreases bone strength, resulting in increased bone fragility and risk of bone fracture(s). Dental implants meanwhile are increasingly sought out by this population. It is clinically necessary to understand the effect of implant success on patients with skeletal low bone mineral density who is also receiving treatment for osteoporosis with oral bisphosphonates. In our ongoing research regarding once-yearly IV bisphosphonate zoledronic acid to prevent osteoporosis in elderly nursing home patients, to date 252 patients have been followed one year after treatment. No osteonecrosis of the jaw has been observed. Collaborative ongoing research by this author has shown dental implants can survive regardless of osteoporosis and even taking bisphosphonates for treatment of osteoporosis. Follow-up for two years on twenty patients has shown no failing implants.