| Now if that doesn't sound like the perfect "quackter" | | | | be stopped and corrected. And remember, this is |
| headline, I don't know what does. | | | | very rare. It is the quackter type of people who yell |
| If you're not familiar with the term, quackter, you've | | | | and scream about strange, horrible side effects that |
| got to listen to the podcasts. | | | | affect a miniscule percentage of people. |
| The bisphosphonates, like Actonel, Boniva, and | | | | The condition happens in the jaw because the jaw |
| Fosamax, increase bone density in the short run by | | | | bone grows at a faster rate than other bones in the |
| decreasing bone loss. But for some reason, a rare | | | | body. Also, there is a larger concentration of bacteria |
| side effect is an overgrowth of bone in the jaw. It is | | | | in the mouth than worsen the problem. Dental |
| especially prevalent after someone is treated for | | | | procedures increase the trauma to the jaw and |
| cancer and then given an intravenous form of a | | | | cause the body to go into a "healing" mode in that |
| bisphosphonate. The chances here are as high as | | | | area. This also increases the bone growth. |
| 10% of getting this condition. | | | | The bisphosphonates slow the cells that dissolve |
| Don't freak out, the bone growth doesn't spring-up | | | | dead bone and increase bone growth. So dead bone |
| overnight. | | | | slowly piles up. |
| Generally, what is happening is that people who are | | | | Your dentist should ask you about the medications |
| taking these medications have a lowered ability to | | | | you are taking before doing any type of procedure |
| heal after a tooth extraction or dental implant. The | | | | on you. The general rule of thumb is to stop taking |
| jaw bone begins to grow into the mouth area. The | | | | the bisphosphonate for three months before the |
| dentist can "shave" this area back down and the | | | | procedure if you have been taking it for three or |
| body can heal itself again. | | | | more years. For emergencies, it has been determined |
| The first sign is seeing or feeling some exposed bone | | | | that the benefits of removing a tooth or doing |
| in the mouth as it grows upward through the gums. | | | | emergency surgery outweigh the risks in this case. |
| Sounds horrible, but bone grows slowly and this can | | | | |