Has anyone had any jaw bone problems with bisphosphonates? Apparently some bisphosphonates can cause jaw bone necrosis. I can't find any information on how this now recognised adverse event begins. Yes, info on necrosis but not early symptoms.
I have had bisphosphonate treatment for about 5 years.
I have breast cancer mets to the bones.
I have a piece of exposed jaw bone in my mouth on the lower jaw/gum. I haven't had teeth there for many years. It started about a year ago with a swelling and tendeness and progressed to a small abcess. A week or two after a piece of bone appeared and has progressively got bigger in height, length and width, now occupying the space of 3 double teeth and half as high.
I have a dragging sensation, faint, dull ache, the gum gets sore and the side of my face is slightly swollen.
My dental surgeon has no idea, her colleagues had a look and have never seen anything like it.
My oncologist asked me to have an OPG X ray and said there was no evidence of necrosis (nor cancer according to the bone scan) but isn't happy that it is there and to see the maxillo-facial surgeon end Jan 06.
If anyone has any experience of this kind of problem please reply, thank you, Velvet