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