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Objective: Trauma during dental surgery is a predisposing factor for bisphosphonates (BP)-related osteonecrosis
of the jaws (BRONJ). However, about 40% of cases of BRONJ are not related to dental invasive procedures, be
ing probably associated to endodontic or periodontal infections. Extraction of non-treatable teeth is considered a
reliable choice, to improve symptoms and to reduce the risk of BRONJ.
Here we report our experience of tooth extractions in patients under oral or intravenous BP therapy.
Study Design: Two-hundred and seventeen patients (38 males, 179 females; mean age 68.72 ± 11.26 years, range
30 to 83 years) under BP therapy received 589 tooth extractions at the Unit of Oral Medicine, Pathology and
Laser-assisted Surgery of the University of Parma, Italy, between June 2006 and December 2010. Ninety five
patients were under BP therapy for oncological disease (multiple myeloma (MM): 23; bone metastases (BM): 72) and 122 patients for non oncological diseases: 119 osteoporosis (OP), 2 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 1 Paget's
disease (PD). The mean duration of BP was of 35 months.
Antibiotic treatment was administered three days before and 2 weeks after tooth extractions. Patients were additionally treated with low level laser therapy (LLLT) through Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm - power 1.25 W; frequency 15
Hz; fibre diameter: 320 µm), 5 application of 1 minute each. Patients were evaluated 3 days and once a week for 2
months after the extractions and every time they received LLLT. Mean follow-up was 15 months (ranging from 4
to 31 months).
Results: In a total of 589 extractions (285 mandibular, 304 maxillary) performed, a minimal bone exposure was
observed in 5 cases, treated with Er:YAG laser vaporization and than healed.
Conclusions: Our experience supports the hypothesis that the association of antibiotic treatment and LLLT can be
effective in preventing ONJ after tooth extractions in patients under BPT.
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