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If you have osteoporosis and you will be having a checkup at your Dentist in the near future be sure to tell the dentist about your condition and what medications you are taking to treat the disease. If your dentist has all the facts he or she will know how to alter your treatment plan to in regard to your osteoporosis. In general, it will be better not to have invasive or surgical dental procedures if you are taking certain antiresorptive agents which include medications such as Fosamax, Atelvia, Actonel, Boniva and Didronel for your osteoporosis. The risk also extends to those using injected bisphosphonates or antiresorptive medications which are used to treat bone pain and high levels of calcium primarily with patients undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, multiple myeloma, and metastatic breast cancer. These injectable bisphosphonates include Zometa and Aredia. If you have just been diagnosed with osteoporosis The best time to see your Dentist is to make an appointment for a checkup right before you start any medications for your osteoporosis. Your dentist can check for any oral or dental problem and take care of any issues that might require surgery or an invasive procedure before starting your medication. As you begin treatment with antiresorptive agents you will then know that your teeth are in good shape and you and your Dentist can set up regular appointments for general cleanings and checkups. Osteonecrosis The reasons for concern over invasive dental procedures for those patients with osteoporosis that are taking bisphosphonates to treat the disease, is that there is a very rare condition called osteonecrosis (ONJ) which can develop that can harm your jaw bone. This extremely rare condition can cause bone loss and tooth loss as the blood supply to the jawbone is disrupted. At this time there appears to be some anecdotal information that there is a link from dental procedures such as tooth extractions to the development of osteonecrosis. The speculation is that since bisphosphonates help to rebuild bone, if there is an area of bone that is weakened or exposed from a dental procedure then the onset of ONJ could be encouraged. Your Dentist can answer any questions you have about the development of osteonecrosis that you might have. Symptoms of Osteonecrosis The general symptoms of osteonecrosis include irritated and bleeding gums that do not heal, numbness in the jaw, teeth that are loose, pain in the gums or jaw, pus from dental abscesses and eventually exposed bone. Do not let anxiety of ONJ keep you from dental appointments It is actually more important than ever if you have osteoporosis and are being treated with antiresorptive agents that you maintain or correct any problems with your teeth or your gums. Contributing factors for the development of ONJ include poor dental hygiene, infection including gum disease, and other oral problems. Regular checkups and good dental care can lower the very small risk of ONJ. Be aware that smoking and abuse of alcohol can increase the risk of ONJ. If you are concerned about ONJ there are screening tests such as the CTX (C-Telopeptide) tests which can help tell the dentist Scottsdale whether there has been a change in the bone turnover rate.
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