What Researchers Did
Researchers introduced practical guidelines from the USA and Canada for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ).
What They Found
Bisphosphonates are effective for various conditions, but BRONJ is a growing problem, especially with intravenous preparations, though incidence is low with oral bisphosphonates. Most BRONJ cases occur after dental treatments and are refractory to conventional therapies. While the number of BRONJ cases in Japan is still small, it is increasing yearly, with a higher ratio of oral to intravenous BRONJ cases compared to EU and USA.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients receiving bisphosphonates should be aware of the risk of BRONJ, particularly after dental procedures. Adherence to oral hygiene, patient education, and stage-appropriate treatments, as outlined in introduced Canadian guidelines, are crucial for prevention and management.
Canadian Relevance
This study directly references and introduces practical guidelines for BRONJ prevention, diagnosis, and treatment that were recently released from Canada, making it relevant to Canadian clinical practice.
Study Limitations
A significant limitation is that no effective therapy for bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws is yet established.