Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: a dentist's nightmare

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a complication in patients who are on anti-bone resorptive drugs. These drugs are prescribed for patients with multiple myeloma, osteoporosis, metastatic carcinoma and Paget's disease. Common anti-bone resorptive drugs such as bisphosphonate and monoclonal antibodies such as denosumab are prescribed for these patients to prevent bone resorption. Although very effective in preventing bone resorption, a complication arising from these groups of drugs is the development of osteomyelitis of the jaw. This medication-related osteonecrosis occurs only in the jaw bones. It could mimic a metastatic jaw tumour when a patient reports to the dental surgeon with pain and swelling in the jaw. This case report describes MRONJ in a 50-year-old Indian woman. This possible painful drug-induced complication of jaw bones can be prevented if proper medical history is taken and management protocol is followed in these patients.