• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.206-210
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• 2010

Bisphosphonates are widely used to treat osteoporosis, hypercalcemia of malignant tumor. Despite their clinical benefit, bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is a newly documented complication to patients receiving these drugs and first recognized by Marx in 2003. Thus, consideration of prevention and needs regarding unequivocal treatment regimen have emerged. Recently, several authors emphasized reports on appropriate clinical availability of surgical approach. It serves to concern about guideline for surgical and conservative treatment modalities. So, it is the purpose of this paper to review the current literatures about treatment regimens of BRONJ.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.53 no.10
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• pp.732-742
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• 2015

The objective of this study was to identify bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) awareness and experience level of patients by medical doctors who prescribes bisphosphonate being used, analyze dental examination referral reality and to utilize its result as basic education data for early diagnosis of BRONJ and its prevention. The study was carried out through a self-administered questionnaire distributed among a sample 192 residents and specialists. They belonged to family medicine, internal medicine and orthopedics of 6 tertiary medical centers located in Seoul. The survey consisted of 22 questions; general characteristics, bisphosphonate therapy, awareness of BRONJ, implementation level of dental examination referral. Among 192 medical doctorss, 78.1% (n=150) showed awareness of BRONJ. Only 8.9% (n=17) had correct response in all 5 BRONJ knowledge questions. Dental examination referral by medical doctors was implemented in below 30% of the total patients. At the time of bisphosphonate administration, specialist of oncology most highly recognized necessity of dental examination referral and it was represented in the order of endocrinology, rheumatology, family medicine, orthopedics specialists. As recognition of medical doctors for BRONJ and implementation level of dental referral were represented to be low, it is considered that enhancement of BRONJ recognition for medical doctors and development of high accessible education program for increasing implementation rate of dental examination referral would be required.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.57-61
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• 2014

Bisphosphonate is used widely for osteoporosis treatment, but a rising concern is the risk of osteonecrosis after long-term bisphosphonate use. Such cases are increasing, suggesting a need for research to prevent and treat bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of jaws. A 63-year-old female took bisphosphonate (Fosamax$^{(R)}$) for four years for treatment of osteoporosis and stopped medication two months ago because of unhealed wound. She was treated with marginal mandibulectomy maintaining the inferior border, and a metal plate was placed to prevent mandible fracture. Four months after the mandibulectomy, mandible reconstruction surgery using iliac bone and allograft was done. Six months after reconstruction, implant placement and treatment with an overdenture was done without complications. This study presents a case with a successful result.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.49 no.7
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• pp.389-397
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• 2011

Bisphosphonate inhibits the function of osteoclast, so they are widely used for multiple myeloma, Paget's disease, metastatic malignant bone disease, and severe osteoporosis. This drug is very effective for preventing severe complication of osteoporosis, some unpredictable complication occurred such as esophageal malignancy, atypical fracture of femur, and osteonecrosis of the jaw. Bisphosphonate related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is closely related with invasive, open bone surgery like tooth extraction. BRONJ associated with dental implant is rare, however, as the use of bisphosphonate increase, BRONJ cases with dental implant are increasing. In this article, we will describe the considerations during dental implant treatment for patient under bisphosphonate therapy.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.478-483
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• 2010

Bisphosphonates are synthetic analogue and have high affinity on bone remodeling site. Since they have a long half-reduction time, they accumulate at bone and act for a long time. They are widely used in osteo-porosis derived from imflammatory bowel disease or postmenopausal osteoporosis patient for bone mineral density improvement. In addition, they neutralize hypercalcemia owing to bone metastasis of malignancy. However, a jaw bone necrosis was recently reported in some patients who have taken bisphosphonates for a long time. It is called Bisphosphonate Related Osteonecrosis of Jaws (BRONJ). It can come spontaneous-ly, but more often after oral surgery including tooth extraction. In this case, a 80-year-old woman was treated with bisphosphonate (sodium alendronate) for 2 years to improve bone mineral density. She had her left lower second molar tooth extracted at local clinic. After extraction, she had inflammatory symptoms like a pain, a cheek swelling, and a discharge of pus. She was referred to our clinic for treatment. We treated meticulously from dressing to surgery. After following up about 1.5 years, the jaw lesion was successfully healed. So we report this case.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.174-177
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• 2013

Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is a disease characterized by jaw necrosis and delayed wound healing in patients who had received bisphosphonates. Buccal fat pad (BFP) can be used as a pedicled flap in the posterior region of the oral cavity. BFP pedicle flap needs simple surgical technique and it shows less donor site morbidity and aesthetic problem than other vascularized flap. BFP pedicled flap was fed by 3 arteries-facial, internal maxillary, and transverse facial artery. Osteomyelitis was generally related with poor blood supply. Thus, rich blood supply of BFP pedicle flap can have a potential advantage to BRONJ patients. In this case report, we presented 3 BRONJ patients treated by BFP pedicle flap after sequestrectomy.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.38
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• pp.6.1-6.8
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• 2016

Background: Intravenous bisphosphonates have been used in metastatic breast cancer patients to reduce pathologic bone fracture and bone pain. However, necrosis of the jaw has been reported in those who received intravenous bisphosphonates. Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is caused by dental extraction, dental implant surgery, and denture wearing; however, it occurs spontaneously. The purpose of this study was to report BRONJ in metastatic breast cancer patients. Methods: Consecutive 25 female patients were referred from the Department of Oncology from 2008 to 2014 for jaw bone discomfort. Staging of breast cancer, history of bisphosphonate infusion, etiology of BRONJ, and treatment results were reviewed. Average age of the patients was 55.4 years old (38-74). Twelve maxillae and 16 mandibles were involved. Conservative treatments such as irrigation, antibiotic medication, analgesics, and oral gargle were applied for all patients for the initial treatment. Patients who had sequestrum underwent debridement and primary closure. Results: The etiologies of BRONJ were dental extraction (19 cases), dental implant (2 cases), and endodontic treatment (1 case). However, three patients did not have any risk factors to cause BRONJ. Three patients died of progression of metastasis during follow-up periods. Surgical debridement was performed in 21 patients with success in 18 patients. Three patients showed recurred bone exposure and infection after operation. Conclusions: Prevention of the BRONJ is critical in metastatic breast cancer patients. Conservative treatment to reduce pain, discomfort, and infection is recommended for the initial therapy. However, if there is a sequestrum, surgical debridement and primary closure is the key to treat the BRONJ.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.291-302
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• 2010

Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is a side effect of Bisphosphonates (BPs) use. These days, oral bisphosphonates are normally prescribed to treat osteoporosis. Intravenous BPs are used extensively to treat osteolytic bone lesions related to multiplemyeloma and bone metastasis of solid cancers, breast cancer or prostate cancer. As the prescription of BPs is universalized and the number of people treated with BPs is increasing, an accurate understanding and proper management of BRONJ are required. The aim of this study was to improve the clinicians' understanding of BRONJ by reviewing the literature. To achieve this, this paper introduces case reports as well as the current concept of BRONJ based on the 2009 updates by American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial (AAOMS) including the definition, epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of BRONJ.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2022

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a serious side effect of antiresorptive agents and bone-modifying agents. It is of the utmost importance to know the management of the MRONJ to improve the patient's quality of life. This study comprehensively reviews the current definitions of MRONJs, and antiresorptive medications, clinical manifestation and staging, risk factors, treatment strategies, and prevention methods of MRONJ. The disease is defined as an exposure of bone and osteonecrosis of the jaw in the oral cavity for at least 8 weeks in patients taking antiresorptive drugs or antiangiogenic agents and with no history of radiotherapy treatment of the jaws. Many articles have reported risk factors associated with MRONJ such as systemic diseases, antiresorptive medication, oral infection, and poor oral hygiene. Osteonecrosis and antiresorptive medications including bisphosphonate and denosumab have been strongly associated, but the pathology of MRONJ is only limited. Hence, an effective and appropriate management and treatment for MRONJ is still to be defined. The objectives of MRONJ treatment are to minimize osteonecrosis and relieve symptoms, and many treatments are suggested from conservative treatment to marginal resection, but this remains controversial. Appropriate treatment of MRONJ remained difficult, although many studies are being covered.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.199-203
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• 2015

A 59-year-old male who had suffered from multiple myeloma for nine years and had been administered bisphosphonates for seven years visited a dental hospital for pain relief due to extensive caries in his left maxillary molars. The molars were extracted, leaving an exposed wound for three months. The radiograph showed sequestra formation and irregular bone destruction in the left maxilla. Sudden pain and gingival swelling in the right mandibular molar area occurred six months later. The interseptum of the right lower second molar was observed to be necrotic during surgery. These findings coincided with the features of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ). In this case, the long intravenous administration of bisphosphonates and tooth extraction were likely the etiologic factors of BRONJ in a patient with multiple myeloma; moreover, the bilateral occurrence of BRONJ is a characteristic feature.