Medication has been used to prevent the breakdown of bone diseases like metastatic bone cancer and osteoporosis. These drugs are known as
bisphosphonates, which slow down the function of osteoclasts cells. There are many different names for the medication in this category, and many of them are taken in the form of a pill.
In a healthy body, osteoclasts absorb bone to pull calcium out of the bones when needed by the body. It also helps the body grow by getting rid of dead bone. Osteoclasts transfer chemical messengers to another type of cell known as osteoblasts. In a healthy body, the system allows growth and healing through life, called remodeling.
In some types of bone disease, the osteoclasts break down bone faster compared to the osteoblasts in rebuilding new bone. The function of bisphosphonate medications is to re-build the balance between osteoclasts and osteoblasts. They function fairly well and minimize pain and suffering from metastatic bone cancer. While the therapeutic dosages of medications can be prescribed, it is not possible to prescribe bisphosphonate treatments to reset the process of bone remodeling that exists in a healthy individual.
There are some rare side effects associated with bisphosphonate medications. This serious side effect is known as
bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw after dental implant placement or dental extractions. Some of the contributing factors include alcohol abuse, malnutrition, periodontal disease, and smoking. Osteonecrosis occurs as a result of dead bone in a localized region that may or may not become infected. Also, the treatment is not predictable, and the healing process of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis may be impossible.
The side effects can reduce the quality of life of people suffering from it. Dentists like
Dr. Sachs are concerned about not extracting teeth in people that use bisphosphonate medication. This has drastically affected the way in which dentists prescribe medicine for people. For example, sealing the roots stumps at the gum-line and performing
root canal therapy is a proper treatment over extraction in these patients.