Bisphosphonates, osteonecrosis of the jaw, and dental treatment recommendations.

Millions of patients in the United States take bisphosphonates for management of malignant bone metastases, osteoporosis, osteitis deformans (Paget's disease), and osteogenesis imperfecta. Since 2003, over 200 cases of osteonecrosis of the jaws have been described, mostly in patients with multiple myeloma or breast cancer patients, and to a lesser extent in patients on oral medications.