[Bisphosphonate and osteonecrosis of the jaw.]

Marx first reported avascular osteonecrosis of the jaw(ONJ)in oncology patients who had used high dose intravenous bisphosphonate(BP)at 2003. Ruggiero et al. also reported BP-related ONJ in osteoporosis patients who had used low dose oral BP at 2004. Since tooth extraction was considered one of risk factors for ONJ, discontinuation of BP before and after tooth extraction was recommended as one of preventive strategy for ONJ, especially in osteoporosis patients. However, recent studies showed that discontinuation of BP did not prevent ONJ, but increased the occurrence of adverse events such as fracture. Best strategies for preventing ONJ include elimination of oral disease such as periodontal and/or periapical diseases prior to initiation of BP, as well as maintenance of good oral hygiene. Development of a strategy for sharing information about ONJ among physicians, dentists, and patients is required to reduce the incidence of ONJ.