• The Journal of the Korean dental association
• /
• v.54 no.4
• /
• pp.274-283
• /
• 2016

Bisphosphonates are widely used mainly for the treatment of osteoporosis and bone metastasis of malignancy. Since the first report of MRONJ, there have been many studies associated, however the pathogenesis of MRONJ is not yet clear. Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ) is a serious complication associated with long-term medication therapy. It is characterized by exposed necrotic bonein the jaw, which has persisted for more than 8weeks despite continuous treatment by dentist. The mechanism of development of MRONJ is still unclear and there is no definitive standard treatment for MRONJ. The purpose of this study is to investigate the jaw bone destruction mechanism of accumulated bisphosphonates, so that we can develop therapeutic method to repair the defect and stop the destruction process. The authors performed simultaneous application of PRF(Platelet rich fibrin) and BMP-2(Bone morphogenetic protein-2) to stimulate not only soft tissue healing but also osseous regeneration. Our case series demonstrate that simultaneous application of platelet rich fibrin and bone morphogenetic protein-2 can be a treatment of choice for MRONJ.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.174-177
• /
• 2013

Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is a disease characterized by jaw necrosis and delayed wound healing in patients who had received bisphosphonates. Buccal fat pad (BFP) can be used as a pedicled flap in the posterior region of the oral cavity. BFP pedicle flap needs simple surgical technique and it shows less donor site morbidity and aesthetic problem than other vascularized flap. BFP pedicled flap was fed by 3 arteries-facial, internal maxillary, and transverse facial artery. Osteomyelitis was generally related with poor blood supply. Thus, rich blood supply of BFP pedicle flap can have a potential advantage to BRONJ patients. In this case report, we presented 3 BRONJ patients treated by BFP pedicle flap after sequestrectomy.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.32 no.5
• /
• pp.478-483
• /
• 2010

Bisphosphonates are synthetic analogue and have high affinity on bone remodeling site. Since they have a long half-reduction time, they accumulate at bone and act for a long time. They are widely used in osteo-porosis derived from imflammatory bowel disease or postmenopausal osteoporosis patient for bone mineral density improvement. In addition, they neutralize hypercalcemia owing to bone metastasis of malignancy. However, a jaw bone necrosis was recently reported in some patients who have taken bisphosphonates for a long time. It is called Bisphosphonate Related Osteonecrosis of Jaws (BRONJ). It can come spontaneous-ly, but more often after oral surgery including tooth extraction. In this case, a 80-year-old woman was treated with bisphosphonate (sodium alendronate) for 2 years to improve bone mineral density. She had her left lower second molar tooth extracted at local clinic. After extraction, she had inflammatory symptoms like a pain, a cheek swelling, and a discharge of pus. She was referred to our clinic for treatment. We treated meticulously from dressing to surgery. After following up about 1.5 years, the jaw lesion was successfully healed. So we report this case.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
• /
• v.53 no.10
• /
• pp.732-742
• /
• 2015

The objective of this study was to identify bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) awareness and experience level of patients by medical doctors who prescribes bisphosphonate being used, analyze dental examination referral reality and to utilize its result as basic education data for early diagnosis of BRONJ and its prevention. The study was carried out through a self-administered questionnaire distributed among a sample 192 residents and specialists. They belonged to family medicine, internal medicine and orthopedics of 6 tertiary medical centers located in Seoul. The survey consisted of 22 questions; general characteristics, bisphosphonate therapy, awareness of BRONJ, implementation level of dental examination referral. Among 192 medical doctorss, 78.1% (n=150) showed awareness of BRONJ. Only 8.9% (n=17) had correct response in all 5 BRONJ knowledge questions. Dental examination referral by medical doctors was implemented in below 30% of the total patients. At the time of bisphosphonate administration, specialist of oncology most highly recognized necessity of dental examination referral and it was represented in the order of endocrinology, rheumatology, family medicine, orthopedics specialists. As recognition of medical doctors for BRONJ and implementation level of dental referral were represented to be low, it is considered that enhancement of BRONJ recognition for medical doctors and development of high accessible education program for increasing implementation rate of dental examination referral would be required.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.108-115
• /
• 2019

Objectives: Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a well-known side effect of certain drugs that are used to influence bone metabolism to treat osteometabolic disease or cancers. The purpose of our study was to investigate how high-concentration and low-concentration bisphosphonate (BP) intake affects the disease severity. Materials and Methods: Data collected from the medical records of 52 patients treated with BPs, antiresorptive, antiangiogenic drugs and diagnosed with MRONJ were included in this study. Age, sex, type of systemic disease, type of drug, duration of drug treatment, jaw area with MRONJ, drug administration protocol, and MRONJ clinical and radiological findings were obtained. Patients were divided into two groups: anti-neoplastic (Group I, n=23) and anti-osteoporotic (Group II, n=29). Statistical evaluations were performed using the IBM SPSS ver. 21.0 program. Results: In both groups, more females had MRONJ. MRONJ was found in the mandibles of 30 patients (Group I, n=14; Group II, n=16). When we classified patients according to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons staging system, significant differences were seen between groups (${\chi}^2=12.23$, P<0.01). More patients with advanced stage (stage 2-3) MRONJ were found in Group I (60.9%). Conclusion: According to our results, high-concentration BP intake, age and duration of drug intake increased disease severity.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.49 no.2
• /
• pp.68-74
• /
• 2023

Objectives: Drug holidays are suggested to reduce the formation of osteonecrosis in patients under intravenous (IV) bisphosphonates (BPs) therapy. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the incidence of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) following tooth extraction in cancer patients using IV BP, and to assess the effect of drug holiday on the development of MRONJ. Patients and Methods: A manuel search of the patient folders of Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Hacettepe University was undertaken to identify cancer patients who used IV BPs and had at least one tooth extraction between 2012 and 2022. Patents' age, sex, systemic condition, the type of BP used, duration of BP used, number of tooth extraction, duration of drug holiday, localization of tooth extraction and incidence of MRONJ were recorded. Results: One hundred nine teeth were removed from 57 jaws in 51 patients. All tooth extractions were performed under perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis and with primary wound closure. The incidence of MRONJ was 5.3%. Stage 1 MRONJ developed in 3 patients (only one had a drug holiday). The median duration of drug holiday was 2 months. No significant difference between the patients with and without a drug holiday and MRONJ development was found (P=0.315). The mean age of patients developed MRONJ was 40.33±8.08 years. A statistically significant difference was found between age and MRONJ development (P=0.002). Conclusion: The effect of a short-term drug holiday on the development of MRONJ may be limited because BPs remain in bone tissue for a long time. Drug holidays should be applied with the approval of an oncologist with other preventive measurements.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.266-274
• /
• 2020

Objectives: Melatonin induces human stem cells, converts pre-osteoblasts to mature osteoblasts, and reduces the duration of this transition. However, melatonin itself prevents activation of osteoclasts. Here, we evaluate the role of melatonin in prevention of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw. Materials and Methods: In this experimental-interventional study, 30 rats were evaluated in 3 groups. The first and second groups received saline and zoledronic acid, respectively, for 4 weeks and the third group received 4 weeks of zoledronic acid and 3 weeks of melatonin simultaneously. First-right-maxillary-molar extraction was performed for all animals, which were sacrificed after 4 weeks of recovery. The extraction sockets were examined histologically for the presence of osteonecrosis, number of osteoclasts and fibroblasts, severity of inflammation, and vascularization. Data were analyzed by chi-square, one-way ANOVA, Tukey, Kruskal-Wallis and Fisher's exact statistical tests (α=0.05). Results: Osteonecrosis was observed in 20%, 90%, and 70% of the first, second and third groups, respectively (P=0.008). The lowest number of osteoclasts and fibroblasts was seen in the third group. Conclusion: Melatonin may effectively prevent some undesirable side effects of bisphosphonates. However, further studies are required to confirm the results of this study.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• v.53 no.2
• /
• pp.109-115
• /
• 2023

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the trabecular bone through texture analysis and compare the texture analysis characteristics of different areas in patients with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). Materials and Methods: Cone-beam computed tomographic images of 16 patients diagnosed with MRONJ were used. In sagittal images, 3 regions were chosen: active osteonecrosis(AO); intermediate tissue (IT), which presented a zone of apparently healthy tissue adjacent to the AO area; and healthy bone tissue (HT) (control area). Texture analysis was performed evaluating 7 parameters: secondary angular momentum, contrast, correlation, sum of squares, inverse moment of difference, sum of entropies, and entropy. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test with a significance level of 5%. Results: Comparing the areas of AO, IT, and HT, significant differences (P<0.05) were observed. The IT and AO area images showed higher values for parameters such as contrast, entropy, and secondary angular momentum than the HT area, indicating greater disorder in these tissues. Conclusion: Through texture analysis, changes in the bone pattern could be observed in areas of osteonecrosis. The texture analysis demonstrated that areas visually identified and classified as IT still had necrotic tissue, thereby increasing the accuracy of delimiting the real extension of MRONJ.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.273-279
• /
• 2020

This review presents an overview of some diagnostic imaging-related issues regarding medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws(MRONJ), including imaging signs that can predict MRONJ in patients taking antiresorptive drugs, the early imaging features of MRONJ, the relationship between the presence or absence of bone exposure and imaging features, and differences in imaging features by stage, between advanced MRONJ and conventional osteomyelitis, between oncologic and osteoporotic patients with MRONJ, and depending on the type of medication, method of administration, and duration of medication. The early diagnosis of MRONJ can be made by the presence of subtle imaging changes such as thickening of the lamina dura or cortical bone, not by the presence of bone exposure. Most of the imaging features are relatively non-specific, and each patient's clinical findings and history should be referenced. Oral and maxillofacial radiologists and dentists should closely monitor plain radiographs of patients taking antiresorptive/antiangiogenic drugs.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.90-95
• /
• 2010

Purpose: The aim of this study is to report a case of oral bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) resulting in implant failure. Methods: A patient suspected of having BRONJ was referred to the Department of Periodontology, Kyung Hee University School of Dentistry for the evaluation and treatment of exposed bone around implants. Results: The patient, who had been taking oral bisphosphonates (BPs) for about a year, was successfully treated with systemic antibiotics, chlorhexidine mouth rinse, explantation, and surgical debridement of necrotic bone. Conclusions: The results of this case suggest that a patient taking BPs orally should be treated cautiously. Appropriate management including cessation of BPs and respective dental treatment may reduce the development of BRONJ.