. Asymptomatic patients receiving oral bisphosphonate therapy
Patients receiving oral bisphosphonates are also at risk for developing BRONJ, but to a
much lesser degree than those treated with intravenous bisphosphonates.
BRONJ can develop spontaneously or after minor trauma. In general, these patients
seem to have less severe manifestations of necrosis and respond more readily to stage
specific treatment regimens.(See Table 1.) Elective dentoalveolar surgery does not
appear to be contraindicated in this group. It is recommended that patients be adequately
informed of the small risk of compromised bone healing. The utilization of bone
turnover marker levels in conjunction with a drug holiday has been reported as an
additional tool to guide treatment decisions in patients exposed to oral bisphosphonates.68
The efficacy of utilizing a systemic marker of bone turnover to assess the risk of
developing jaw necrosis in patients at risk will require further research before it can be
considered a valid risk assessment tool. Long-term, prospective studies are also required
to establish the efficacy of drug holidays in reducing the risk of BRONJ for these
patients.
The risk of BRONJ may be associated with increased duration of treatment with oral
bisphosphonates, i.e., > three years. There has been no information to suggest that
monthly dosing of oral bisphosphonates, i.e., ibandronate (Boniva®), risedronate
(Actonel®), is associated with either an elevated or reduced risk of BRONJ when
compared with weekly dosing regimens. The risk of long-term oral bisphosphonate
therapy clearly requires continued analysis and research.