Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw in patients with osteoporosis

摘要

The U.S. population is aging, and an increasing number of persons are taking bisphosphonates for osteoporosis. National data on prescribing patterns show that in 2003, bisphosphonates were prescribed at 73 percent of physician visits for osteoporosis. In 2007, more than 5.4 million patients in the United States were taking oral bisphosphonates.However, bisphosphonates are under scrutiny because of the risk of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw. The American and Canadian Associations of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons have adopted a working definition of this condition. It is defined as exposed bone in the maxillofacial region that has persisted beyond eight weeks in a patient currently or previously treated with a bisphosphonate, and in the absence of a history of radiotherapy to the jaw.