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Controversy about jaw osteonecrosis in oral bisphosphonate users was a hot topic several years ago (JW Gen Med Apr 8 2008), but it faded into the background when attention shifted to a possible connection between atypical femoral fractures and bisphosphonates (JW Womens Health May 4 2011). Now, two new NIH-funded studies, conducted in dental practice–based research networks, put the spotlight back on bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ).
In a case-control study that involved 119 dental practices in four U.S. metropolitan areas, 191 patients with BRONJ were compared with 573 control patients. About half the BRONJ patients had used oral bisphosphonates. In multivariate analysis, oral bisphosphonate use was strongly associate…