Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

Patients at Fresh Meadows Dental Care in Flushing benefit from Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh’s experience performing oral surgery. Dental extractions are never done lightly, but are routine and seldom cause complications. However, if patients are undergoing treatment for cancer, they should be aware of how to prevent osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ).

When teeth are extracted, a bit of bone is exposed at the bottom of the socket. Normally, the socket closes after a few days. But in people taking bisphosphonate medications, there is a chance the bone will die and decay if exposed to air. Bisphosphonates are anti-bone resorption drugs that people with osteoporosis or osteopenia take orally and that people undergoing chemotherapy take intravenously. While ONJ is very rare, when it is seen, it is almost always in people taking the stronger IV bisphosphonate doses.

ONJ can be treated with antibiotic rinses. But it is best avoided by keeping dentists and oncologists on the same page. If a person has been diagnosed with cancer or osteoporosis, it is better for them to undergo any necessary extractions before beginning bisphosphonate treatment. If they have already started, it may be better for them to get dental treatments that don’t require extractions.

Farid Hakimzadeh, DDS, operates Fresh Meadows Dental Care at 58-47 Francis Lewis Blvd., Suite 100, Flushing, New York, 11364. To schedule an appointment, call 718-224-7272 or visit Fresh Meadows Dental and fill out a contact form.