Osteoporosis Medication May Lead to Jaw Necrosis; Doctor: Taiwan's Incidence Rate 2.62 Times Higher Than Western Countries

Mr. Xu, 76, who had been taking 'bisphosphonates' weekly for 20 years due to osteoporosis, recently experienced bleeding, pus, and extreme pain from a previously implanted tooth. Upon visiting a dentist, he was diagnosed with jaw necrosis, characterized by exposed alveolar bone and dead bone formation. As an obstetrician himself, he stated the pain was worse than childbirth. Patient Mr. Xu said, "The pain is excruciating, worse than childbirth. If we consider the average labor pain duration of 4 to 8 hours, I could give birth to three children in a day." After two debridement surgeries, his wound healed and new bone regenerated. Professor Li Zheng-Zhe from the National Taiwan University College of Dentistry, who performed the surgery and has treated over 1600 cases in more than 20 years, noted that approximately 50 to 70 cases of jaw necrosis caused by osteoporosis medication occur annually, and the incidence rate in Taiwan is higher than in Western countries. Dr. Li Zheng-Zhe, attending physician at a dental hospital, stated, "The incidence rate calculates to 2.62 per 1000 people, which is about 2.6 to 10 times higher than in Western countries." Dr. Li explained that while osteoporosis medications inhibit bone loss, they also reduce bone metabolism. Therefore, poor oral hygiene, periodontal disease, tooth extraction, or dental implants can increase the risk of jaw necrosis, making treatment challenging. Dr. Li Zheng-Zhe further elaborated, "Bisphosphonates have a half-life of over 10 years in the bone. Due to this long half-life, it is difficult to reduce the drug concentration during treatment, making the treatment process very lengthy. However, it is curable."