Bisphosphonates and Osteonecrosis of the Jaw
Authors: Sook-Bin Woo, John W. Hellstein, John R. Kalmar
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2006)

Letters21 November 2006Bisphosphonates and Osteonecrosis of the JawSook-Bin Woo, DMD, John W. Hellstein, DDS, MS, and John R. Kalmar, DMD, PhDSook-Bin Woo, DMDFrom Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Iowa City, Iowa; and The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Columbus, Ohio.Search for more papers by this author, John W. Hellstein, DDS, MSFrom Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Iowa City, Iowa; and The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Columbus, Ohio.Search for more papers by this author, and John R. Kalmar, DMD, PhDFrom Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Iowa City, Iowa; and The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Columbus, Ohio.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-145-10-200611210-00023 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE: We agree with Drs. Grey and Cundy that no data exist on the incidence or prevalence of osteonecrosis of the jaw in patients taking oral bisphosphonates for osteoporosis. However, the lack of reported cases in the 20 000 patients does not mean that none occurred. Patients who develop what they perceive to be oral or dental problems generally seek help from their dentist or oral surgeon and may not have thought to report the problems to their physician. Furthermore, since the risk for osteonecrosis of the jaw seems to be both time- and dose-dependent, a 2-year exposure may be ...References1. Mashiba T, Hirano T, Turner CH, Forwood MR, Johnston CC, Burr DB. Suppressed bone turnover by bisphosphonates increases microdamage accumulation and reduces some biomechanical properties in dog rib. J Bone Miner Res. 2000;15:613-20. [PMID: 10780852] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Mashiba T, Turner CH, Hirano T, Forwood MR, Johnston CC, Burr DB. Effects of suppressed bone turnover by bisphosphonates on microdamage accumulation and biomechanical properties in clinically relevant skeletal sites in beagles. Bone. 2001;28:524-31. [PMID: 11344052] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Sook-Bin Woo, DMD; John W. Hellstein, DDS, MS; John R. Kalmar, DMD, PhDAffiliations: From Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Iowa City, Iowa; and The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Columbus, Ohio.Disclosures:Grants received: S.-B. Woo (Novartis). PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoSystematic Review: Bisphosphonates and Osteonecrosis of the Jaws Sook-Bin Woo , John W. Hellstein , and John R. Kalmar Bisphosphonates and Osteonecrosis of the Jaw Nelson B. Watts , Steven T. Harris , Michael R. McClung , John P. Bilezikian , Susan L. Greenspan , and Marjorie M. Luckey Bisphosphonates and Osteonecrosis of the Jaw Andrew Grey and Tim Cundy Metrics Cited byp62/SQSTM1, a Central but Unexploited Target: Advances in Its Physiological/Pathogenic Functions and Small Molecular ModulatorsBisphosphonates as a risk factor for adverse orthodontic outcomes: A retrospective cohort studyZoledronic acid for adjuvant use in patients with breast cancerOsteonecrosis of the jaw and bisphosphonate treatment for osteoporosisCurrent awareness: Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safetyOsteopenia and cancer in children and adolescents 21 November 2006Volume 145, Issue 10Page: 792KeywordsBoneCancer risk factorsConflicts of interestDiagnostic radiologyDrugsElderlyOsteoporosisSurgeons ePublished: 21 November 2006 Issue Published: 21 November 2006 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2006 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...