The RISKS of “Medicine-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw” (MRONJ) to patients’ simultaneous oral surgery and osteoporosis treatment

The Reality of Aging

The realities of aging include white hair, wrinkled skin, and dental implants. Sometimes oral surgery to correct or implant dental features are a necessary step to provide quality of life and longevity. Oftentimes these dental implants or oral surgeries are part of a more complex issue of bone loss and calcium deficiency and osteoporosis. Because of this multi-symptom complex deficiency and metabolic aging, there are often multiple treatments co-occurring when the need for oral surgery arises. This is where bone death in the jaw has a higher risk of occurrence.

What is MRONJ?

M-edicine R-elated O-steoN-ecrosis of the Jaw, colloquially known as MRONJ in the medical industry. In laymen’s terms, it is the decay and death of your jaw after oral surgery due to certain medicines you are taking. “Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a rare, severe debilitating condition from unknown causes. It is characterized by nonhealing exposed bone in a patient with a history of antiresorptive or antiangiogenic agents in the absence of radiation exposure to the head and neck region.” (NCBI.NLM.NIH.GOV)

Core Health Infusion Center is always proactively concerned for our patients, and would like to make a Public Health Announcement to provide some education and notice. One of our special areas of interest is bone health and osteoporosis. What does this have to do with medicine-related osteonecrosis of the jaw? Well, some of the medicines that we must administer for osteoporosis can interfere with healthy post-operative recovery from dental implants and oral surgeries.

Due to this fact, Dr. Myneni and our staff at Core Health Infusion Center wish to provide our patients with a courtesey public health announcement. Core Health Infusion Center is ready and willing to partner with your dentist or oral surgeon to coordinate a successful surgery and continued treatment for osteoporosis.

Please do not assume the risks for MRONJ are negligible; the data that exists regarding the risks of medicine-related osteonecrosis of the jaw is quite staggering: “For the 11,690 patients whose reported cases included indications, 59% of MRONJ cases were taking the medications to prevent skeletal-related events, and 41% of the MRONJ cases were taking the medications for the treatment or prevention of osteoporosis” (wolterskluwer).

Reach out to CORE Health Infusion Center

If you or a loved one will be undergoing oral surgery and is simultaneously receiving treatment for osteoporosis or bone health, consult with your oral surgeon and rheumatologist. You and your loved one’s best health is our greatest priority. Core Health Infusion Center is located at El Camino Hospital on on the first floor of the Melchor Pavilion. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us about any concerns you may have.