Osteonecrosis After Gum Graft

The gum graft should have NOT have been done on your mother in law if there was a history taken by the oral surgeon that showed she had been on any oral or IV medication for the treatment of osteoporosis.  Fosamax and Boniva are examples of these bisphosphonates. Long term use of these oral medications can pose a  threat to the patient with a predisposition for osteonecrosis. General dentists, seeing a health history of ostesoporosis medication, will refer the patient to an oral... more

Most common factor for osteonecrosis is the history of taking bisphosphonates, that is a very common treatment of osteoporosis in females after 60 or bone metastasis during cancer treatment. Usually before accepting such patient for any surgical procedures certain blood tests are performed (CRX bone turnover marker) that allows to evaluate to risks of possible complications. The major problem in such cases is decreased bone turnover time and slow healing that increases risks of infection. In... more

Dead bone in the jaw can be caused by medications used to treat osteoporosis. It is thought that the stimulation causes some bone to outgrow its blood supply. The treatment recommended depends on the degree of severity. For minor cases no treatment is recommended. For more severe cases the segment of dead bone has to be removed. If you attempt to graft gum over this dead bone it will not survive. You might try an oral surgeon at your local university medical center. My response to your... more