ONJ (Osteonecrosis of the Jaw) is a serious condition in which small areas of bone in the upper or lower jaw become infected or inflamed and die which in turn produces a searing neuralgia-like pain. There is no cure; the condition is irreversible. In 2003, Dr. Robert E. Marx, a maxillofacial surgeon in Florida, wrote a letter to the editor of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery when he realized so many patients had a rare condition called osteonecrosis. After some investigation, Dr. Marx learned that all the patients had been taking Aredia or Zometa, intravenous drugs for cancer. Fifty percent of his patients had multiple myeloma (cancer of the plasma cell). According to the FDA if patients on bisphosphonates require dental procedures, there is no data available on whether stopping the drugs reduces the risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw.
ONJ can be treated with antibiotic therapy, prescription periodontal mouth rinses, and removable mouth guards. Surgery can make the condition worse, although sometimes it is necessary to remove dead tissue. At present, there is no cure for the condition.
(Archwired)
