[Application of bisphosphonates for periodontitis]

Bisphosphonates are known as highly effective inhibitors of osteoclastic bone resorption that selectively affect osteoclasts. They are world-wildly used for the treatment of metabolic bone diseases with excessive bone resorption such as osteoporosis and Paget's disease. Alveolar bone loss in periodontitis results from local inflammatory reactions by periodontopathic bacteria. It has been reported that bisphosphonates efficiently prevent experimentally induced alveolar bone resorption in animals with periodontitis, and that bisphosphonate therapy improves the outcome of periodontal treatment in human being. Administration of bisphosphonates may be an appropriate adjunctive treatment to preserve periodontal bone mass. Further studies are needed regarding topical drug delivery system, effective dose and frequency of administration, possible side effects, and which bisphosphonate is suitable for periodontitis.