Dental management of patients receiving oral bisphosphonate therapy

Reports of osteonecrosis (also called “osteochemonecrosis” and “bisphosphonateassociated osteonecrosis”) of the jaw associated with the use of the bisphosphonates zoledronic acid (Zometa, Novartis, East Hanover, N.J.) and pamidronate (Aredia, Novartis), began to surface in 2003.1,2 Zoledronic acid and pamidronate are intravenous (IV) bisphosphonates used to reduce bone pain, hypercalcemia of malignancy and skeletal complications in patients with multiple myeloma, breast, lung and other cancers and Paget’s disease of bone.

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