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Osteonecrosis of the Jaw Symptoms

Symptoms may not appear initially in patients with osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). The first symptom to appear is usually pain.

Additional symptoms include:

• Loose teeth
• Drainage
• Softness and tissue swelling
• Infection

Osteonecrosis of the Jaw and Bisphosphonates

Bisphosphonates, such as Fosamax®, are medications that can be used to treat and prevent the thinning of bones. Our bone tissue is constantly in a state of reformation. Old tissue is broken down and absorbed. New bone tissue is being constructed. If the rate of breakdown exceeds the rate of build up of new tissue, the result is thinning, weakened bones. This can lead to bone fractures.

Fosamax® and ONJ

The cells that break down bone tissue or osteoclasts are kept from doing their job by Fosamax®. While these cells stop breaking down tissue, the cells that build new bone, or osteoblasts continue to work and add tissue to the bones.

Fosamax® has been linked to the breakdown of jaw bone tissue. The term to describe this breakdown and death of jawbone tissue is osteonecrosis of the jaw or ONJ. If you suffer osteonecrosis of the jaw tissue, contact an ONJ lawyer today.

ONJ Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis is made based on the patient’s symptoms of pain, loose teeth, drainage, tissue swelling and softness and infection. The presence of these symptoms usually signals a patient has ONJ.

A recent study reported in Supportive Oncology found that the best treatment for ONJ is conservative treatment as opposed to extensive surgical treatment.

The data showed that removing the portion of the bone that was dead and separated from the rest of the jaw bone, plus debridement of the remaining tissue and treatment with antibiotics was the best way to help patients recover from ONJ. Debridement means to remove the dead tissue that remains stuck to the jaw until new healthy tissue is exposed.

Fosamax® (alendronate) is manufactured by Merck and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 1995. It is prescribed for women at risk for osteoporosis, especially women after they go through menopause. It also is prescribed for men who also have problems with bone thinning and tendency to fracture.

Ask a Fosamax® Lawyer

For more information about ONJ, or to speak with an attorney about a possible connection between your case of ONJ and Fosamax®, contact an osteonecrosis attorney today. We may be able to help you obtain compensation for your injury and loss.