Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw After Tooth Extraction

Abstract

Bisphosphonates are widely used for treatment or prevention of bone diseases characterized by high osteoclastic activity. Among the oral medicines used to treat osteoporosis, alendronate has been often used. Despite of the low rate of complications on its use, cases of osteonecrosis of the jaw have been reported on literature after tooth extractions. The main symptoms include pain, tooth mobility, swelling, erythema, and ulceration. The risk factors related to osteonecrosis of the jaw associated with bisphosphonate are exposition time to the medicine, routes of administration, and oral surgical procedures performed. The aim of this work is to report a case of a patient showing osteonecrosis of the jaw associated with the use of oral bisphosphonates after tooth extractions. The patient was treated through the suspension of the alendronate with the removal of the necrotic tissue and the foci of infection. After a year's follow-up, the patient showed no recurrence signs. From the foregoing, the interruption of the alendronate use and the surgical treatment associated to antibiotic therapy showed effective on the patient's treatment.