Management of patients receiving bisphosphonate treatment
- Currently available advice
Dental practitioners are increasingly likely to see patients who are taking bisphosphonate drugs as treatment for a number of medical conditions. Bisphosphonate treatment can have important implications for dental care due to an increased likelihood of development of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ).
There is currently no national guidance for the management of dental patients taking bisphosphonates. However, the following sources of information and advice are available:
- British Dental Association - Bisphosphonates Fact File (September 2008)
- NHS Tayside Guidance letter to dental and medical practitioners. regarding Bisphosphonate-Related OsteoNecrosis of the Jaw (BRONJ) (September 2008).
- American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons - Position Paper on Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw"” updated January 2009.
- Other guidelines and systematic reviews on this topic are available via NHS Evidence.
- MHRA - Drug safety advice -Bisphosphonates - Nov-2009
Page compiled by SDCEP
Page last edited: 05 November 2009
