Biophosphonates are a class of drugs that are commonly used against osteoporosis.

Recently, osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) or jawbone death has been added to their list list of side effects as announced by the Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA).

ONJ is a rare but very serious side effect of biophosphonates: Fosamax(R), Actonel(R) and Boniva(R), taken orally while Aredia(R), Bonefos(R), Didronel(R) or Zometa(R), administered intravenously.

Over a thousand cases of ONJ have been reported in patients undergoing bisphosphonate treatments, one largest report being that of an article by Dr. Salvatore Ruggiero, chief of the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center.

The patients represented in this series of case reports were preponderantly female and typically presented with bone pain, nonhealing extraction sockets or exposed bone.

"The prospective mechanism by which bisphosphonates may be associated with the development of ONJ has not been completely identified at this
time," said Dr. Sean Boynes, a PDA member who is an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine.

"It is clear that several issues need further clarification regarding ONJ in cancer patients treated with bisphosphonates."

Symptoms of ONJ include, but are not limited to, pain, swelling, or infection of the gums or jaw; gums that are not healing; loose teeth;
numbness or a feeling of heaviness in the jaw, drainage and exposed bone. It is therefore adviced that patients on biophosphonates should report to their dentist or doctor.

Read the full report at PRNewswire or you may visit the Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) website.