According to an article in the Mayo Clinic Health Letter, the risk associated with jawbone death is very small. In contrast, the health risks associated with osteoporosis - a disease that causes bones to become brittle and to fracture are high. More than half of Americans over 50 either have or are at risk of developing osteoporosis. If a fracture occurs, you're at risk of becoming disabled, ending up in a nursing home or even dying. To treat osteoporosis, millions of Americans take oral bisphosphonate drugs, a class of drugs that includes alendronate (Fosamax), ibandronate (Boniva), risedronate (Actonel) and others. Estimates indicate about 20 cases of osteonecrosis may occur in a year in this large group of people. (Medical News About Bisphosphonates)
