ONJ in two dental practice-based research network regions
Fellows, J.L.; Rindal, D.B.; Barasch, A.; Gullion, C.M.; Rush, W.; Pihlstrom, D.J.; Richman, J.; Brooks, W.T.; Carroll, J.; Holmes, J.; Tso, R.; Wallace, M.; Kelly, M.; Thoele, M.J.; Morgan, G.; Waiwaiole, L.; Dixon, A.; Ferguson, K.; Gilbert, G.; Makija, S.; Matthews, A.; Robinson, M.; Voinea-Griffin, A.; Wallace, M.; Jenkins, K.; Williams, D.; Winston, V.; Kessler, A.; Redmonds, R.; Graffeo, C.
Texas Dental Journal 130(4): 311-318
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 0040-4284 PMID: 23767160 Document Number: 668086
The incidence of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) in the population is low, but specifics are unknown. Potential risk factors include bisphosphonate treatment, steroid treatment, osteoporosis, and head/neck radiation. This Dental Practice-Based Research Network study estimated ONJ incidence and odds ratios from bisphosphonate exposure and other risk factors using a key word search and manual chart reviews of electronic records for adults aged > or = 35 years enrolled during 1995-2006 in 2 large health care organizations. We found 16 ONJ cases among 572,606 cohort members; 7 additional cases were identified through dental plan resources. Among 23 cases (0.63 per 100,000 patient years), 20 (87%) had at least 1 risk factor, and 6 (26%) had received oral bisphosphonates. Patients with oral bisphosphonates were 15.5 (CI, 6.0-38.7) more likely to have ONJ than non-exposed patients; however, the sparse number of ONJ cases limits firm conclusions and suggests that the absolute risks for ONJ from oral bisphosphonates is low.