Bisphosphonate-related dental diseases

Bisphosphonates are prescribed by geriatricians, and other primary and secondary care doctors for the treatment of osteoporosis, Paget’s disease, and malignancies. Bisphosphonate-related side effects have become newsworthy of late including bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ). From our own observations, and feedback from colleagues, we have found that the dental health of patients before commencement of bisphosphonates is largely not assessed even in fragility fracture patients. Mavrokokki T et al1 proposed that the patients should be declared fit from a dental health point of view before the commencement of bisphosphonates for bone diseases and the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP)2