BISPHOSPHONATE THERAPY AND JAW OSTEONECROSIS: AN OVERVIEW

BACKGROUND Bisphosphonates are anti-resorptive agents that have been used for more than a decade, for the treatment of metabolic bone diseases, such as osteoporosis and osteopenia, and to control the skeletal complications associated with metastatic bone disease. Despite their proven efficacy as anti-resorptive drugs, a devastating side-effect, ‘Bisphosphonate Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws’ (BRONJ), has been documented over the last decade. This article aims to provide an overview of bisphosphonates and BRONJ, to improve the awareness among practitioners