Risk of developing BRONJ among patients exposed to intravenous bisphosphonates following tooth extraction.

OBJECTIVE

A study was designed to measure of the incidence of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ) following tooth extraction in patients receiving or who have received intravenous bisphosphonates (Zometa, zoledronic acid).

METHOD AND MATERIALS: A prospective cohort study was made of 36 patients subjected to 62 tooth extractions. All these 36 patients had been treated or were receiving treatment with zoledronic acid.

RESULTS

The incidence of BRONJ following 62 tooth extractions in patients treated with zoledronic acid 4 months after extraction was 14.5%.

CONCLUSION

No statistically significant associations were found with patient age, sex, hygiene index, total treatment time, surgical difficulty, or extraction site. However, the factors that significantly influenced the final presence of osteonecrosis were related to tooth extractions in the absence of periodontal disease, and if sockets remained unhealed at the month of extraction.