Editorial

Osteonecrosis of the jaw after treatment with bisphosphonates

BMJ 2006; 333 doi: 10.1136/bmj.39024.647558.BE (Published 9 November 2006)
Cite this as: BMJ 2006;333:982

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Is irreversible, so the focus must be on prevention

  1. Basile Nicolas Landis, resident (Basile.Landis@hcuge.ch),
  2. Michel Richter, professor and head of department,
  3. Ivan Dojcinovic, senior resident,
  4. Max Hugentobler, associate professor
  1. 1Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, University Hospital of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland

New generation bisphosphonates such as zolendronic acid, pamidronate, and alendronic acid have various indications in medicine. Initially, their use was restricted to patients with metastatic bone malignancy secondary to breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, or multiple myeloma. Their benefit in these conditions led to wider application for other bone pathologies, such as osteoporosis and Paget's disease.1 Their main effect is to inhibit osteoclast activity; however, they also seem to have antiangiogenic effects, …

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