title: Minor post-extraction complications other than BRONJ in older patients on oral bisphosphonates - a retrospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral bisphosphonates (BP) have been prescribed widely in osteoporosis patients. Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) has been reported as a major complication, but there is little information about minor complications.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This retrospective study describes post-operative complications - other than BRONJ - associated with dental extractions in patients on oral BP and compares outcomes with patients not on oral BP.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study period was 2004-05 ending December 2005, prior to the introduction of protocols for minimising risks related to extractions in patients on BP therapy. Records of patients aged 60 years and over who underwent extractions during this period at Sydney Dental Hospital were examined and post-operative complications analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 266 participants identified on oral BP therapy out of an available number of 3811 available files based retrospectively from records of 4126 participants who underwent extractions during the two-year period. In the oral BP group, 10% had complications compared with 2% in the non-oral BP group (p < 0.0001). This relationship remained significant even after adjusting for age, gender, operator, type and site of procedure. Delayed healing (36%) and exposed alveolar bone which required an intervention (31%) were the most common complications in the BP group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of minor post-operative complications among BP participants was significantly higher than in non-BP participants. The nature of the complications was in the range of pathology familiar to - and treatable by - the general dentist.
authors.affiliation: Sydney Local Health District Oral Health Service, Sydney Dental Hospital, Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia.|Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Russell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lain
authors.affiliation: Sydney Local Health District Oral Health Service, Sydney Dental Hospital, Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia.|Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Shilpi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ajwani
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000473:pathology; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates
keywords: elderly; gerodontology.; oral bisphosphonates; oral pathology