Dental care for osteoporosis patients: how are the risks managed? What are the risk factors? Can dental implants be placed? And what should you know before starting dental treatment?
The most common metabolic disease of the skeleton, affecting about 35% of women and about 17% of men worldwide. The bones of the skeleton are a dynamic organ that constantly undergoes turnover (resorption and formation) of bone tissue.
In osteoporosis patients, bone resorption outpaces bone formation, leading to loss of bone mass and damage to the structure and strength of the skeleton, and significantly increasing the risk of fractures.
About 40% of women will experience an osteoporosis-related fracture after menopause during their lifetime.
Treatment of the disease is usually long-term medication, in tablets or by infusion, to prevent bone resorption. The frequency of treatment and the type of medication depend on the duration of the disease, its severity and the response to previous treatments.
Yes. The main risk arises from the medication used to treat the disease, not from the disease itself. These medications remain in the bloodstream for many years (up to 20 years), so there is little benefit in stopping them for a few months before or after a procedure. In addition, these medications are very important in preventing skeletal fractures (mainly of the hip), which can lead to high mortality rates at older ages, so they should not be stopped. Specific blood tests such as CTX are controversial and cannot reliably predict the development of complications.
The main complication in these situations is osteonecrosis of the jaw, which presents as exposed bone for 8 weeks or longer.
The incidence is very low, but it increases with various risk factors such as: the type of medication (intravenous drugs), duration of use, dosage, patient age, medical background (diabetes, for example), additional medications (steroids), smoking history, the type of dental treatment performed (extraction/implant/denture), presence of gum disease, poor oral hygiene, tissue trauma and more..
Before starting osteoporosis medication, it is very important to be examined by a dentist who specializes in oral medicine and can assess your risk factors and provide a tailored, forward-looking treatment plan to prevent complications.
If you have already started medication, to reduce the risk factors that may lead to osteonecrosis, maintain daily oral health, attend routine check-ups, complete necessary dental treatment, and visit the dental hygienist frequently.
Before surgical treatment, see a dentist with knowledge and experience in treating osteoporosis patients, and plan the treatment optimally to reduce the risks.
In principle yes, but it is recommended to consult an oral medicine specialist before deciding how to carry out the dental implant plan.
