A systematic review assessing occurrence of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw following dental procedures

Aim: This study aimed to systematically review existing literature regarding the association between dental procedures­such as tooth extractions and periodontal therapy­and occurrence of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) in individuals using bone-modifying drugs. Methods: Search strategies were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library for a timeframe ending in December 2021. Study selection, data extraction and risk of bias were analyzed independently by two researchers. Three meta-analyses were performed, estimating the crude risk ratio (RR), the adjusted odds ratio (OR) and the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for the association between tooth extraction and MRONJ. Results: Of the 1,654 studies initially retrieved, 17 were ultimately included. The majority of patients with MRONJ in these studies were female, with a mean age of 64 years. Zoledronic acid was the most commonly used drug among patients with MRONJ, and cancer was the most frequent underlying health condition. Regarding the performed meta-analyses, crude and adjusted analyses demonstrated that tooth extraction increased the risk for MRONJ by 4.28 (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.73­10.58), the OR for MRONJ by 26.94 (95%CI: 4.17­174.17), and the HR for MRONJ by 9.96 (95%CI: 4.04­24.55). Conclusion: It was concluded that performing dental procedures, especially tooth extraction, in patients using bone-modifying drugs increased the risk of MRONJ occurrence and, therefore, should be avoided. Further studies, using adjusted data, are warranted

Prevención de osteonecrosis asociada a medicamentos y ensayo clínico multicéntrico, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Buenos Aires / Prevention of drug-related osteonecrosis and multicentric clinical trial, School of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires

La osteonecrosis asociada a medicamentos (ONAM) es un efecto adverso poco frecuente pero potencialmente serio que afecta a pacientes que reciben o recibieron tratamiento con drogas antirresortivas o antiangiogénicas. A partir de una revisión narrativa de la literatura, el presente artículo aporta conceptos básicos e información actualizada acerca de incidencia, factores de riesgo y prevención de ONAM desde la perspectiva de la Práctica Basada en la Evidencia. Además pone en conocimiento a la comunidad profesional de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad de Buenos Aires acerca de las actividades de investigación clínica llevadas a cabo en este área en la Cátedra de Cirugía y Traumatología Buco-Máxilo-Facial I de nuestra casa de estudios (AU)

Medicine related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ) is a rare but potentially serious side effect experienced by patients receiving treatment with antiresorptive or antiangiogenic drugs. Through a narrative review of the literature, this paper provides basic concepts and updated data about incidence, risk factors and prevention of MRONJ from the Evidence Based Practice perspective. It also informs the professional community of the School of Dentistry of the University of Buenos Aires about the clinical research activities carried out in this area in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery I Department (AU)

Spontaneous bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the left hemi-mandible: Similarities with phossy jaw.

Intravenous bisphosphonates (BP) play a key role in the treatment of bone metastases. As a long-term side effects BP, a form of avascular osteonecrosis of the jaw has been reported. Although, invasive oral local procedures are often present in clinical history of patients suffering from bisphosphonates-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ), about up to 50% of BRONJ are spontaneous. We report a case of a 68-year-old female with a spontaneous wide bone sequestration of the left mandibular body onset after infusion of zoledronic acid for 18 cycles for osseous metastasis due to metastatic anaplastic thyroidal carcinoma. Surprisingly the clinical aspects of the patient initially reminded us of the famous pathology described in 1899 called phossy jaw. This case is remarkable not only for the spontaneity of the osteonecrosis, but, above all, for the clinical similarity with cases of phossy jaw, described for the first time in the literature, thereby suggesting a potential common pathogenesis.