title: Prosthodontic treatment of a patient taking nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates to preserve the integrity of the epithelial attachment: a clinical report.
abstract: Osteonecrosis of the jaw has been identified in recent years as an unfortunate potential side effect for patients taking nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates. Many authors have attempted unsuccessfully to elucidate the mechanism behind this drug-induced malady, leaving dentists with unclear guidelines on how to treat these patients. Recent literature suggests a threshold-related impairment of epithelial cell migration over bone. A conservative, non-invasive approach aimed at preserving the epithelial attachment in a patient on a long-term oral alendronate protocol is described. The advantage of this approach is to prevent a highly destructive bone degenerative process that does not have a clear and predictable treatment protocol.
authors: Department of Removable Prosthodontics, University of California-Los Angeles School of Dentistry, USA. dlstewart@ncofi.org
authors: Devin L
authors: DL
authors: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019386:Alendronate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000044:Dental Abutments; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003779:Denture Design; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D004846:Epithelial Attachment / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000601:surgery; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D019553:Tooth, Nonvital / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D019386:Alendronate