MRONJ & Bisphosphonates

Question 1

What are Bisphosphonates?

Answer 1

Class of medications used to treat and prevent bone-related conditions.

Question 2

How do bisphosphonates work?

Answer 2

They inhibit osteoclasts, which slows down bone loss and allowing osteoblasts to work more effectively

Question 3

What makes a patient high risk for MRONJ?

Answer 3

Had a previous diagnosis of MRONJ
Taking anti-resorptive drugs for cancer management
Taken bisphosphonates for more than 5 years

Question 4

What is MRONJ?

Answer 4

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw
Rare side effect of anti-resorptive and anti-angiogenic drugs.
It is defined as exposed bone or bone that can be probed through an intra-oral or extra-oral fistula in the maxillofacial region that has persisted for more than 8 weeks where there has been no history of radiation therapy to the jaw

Question 5

What can cause MRONJ in dentistry?

Answer 5

Tooth extraction
Can lead to MRONJ due to poor wound healing