Osteoporosis: If You Have It, Your Dental Team Needs To Know

Your mouth and teeth do not exist in isolation to the rest of your body: everything is connected and has an influence on the other. This is one of the reasons why your dental team needs to know about your current and past health status and the medications you are taking.

If you are being treated for the bone-thinning effects of osteoporosis, chances are that you will be taking a medication that can have a significant impact on your body’s ability to recover from certain types of dental treatments.

Some of these medications increase the risk of developing osteonecrosis, which can cause severe damage to any bone, including the jawbone. In rare cases, this can occur after a tooth is pulled.

If you are being treated for osteonecrosis, be sure to inform your dental team so that they can work closely with you and your medical team to keep your mouth and teeth healthy during treatment. Ideally, all significant treatment should be carried out before any medications are started. It is generally not recommended that any medication is stopped in order to have dental treatment, and of course you should never change your medication protocol without first consulting your medical team.

The American Dental Association have put together a very informative page about osteonecrosis and your dental health here.