the dentist told me I should contact my doctor and go off of fosamax. How long before I can have my tooth extrackrd?
i have been taking fosamax for two years. I have to have a tooth extracked,dentist refused is he right?
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No – current evidence says that under 3 years use of Fosomax is quite safe. And there is no point in stopping the Fosomax because it has already bound to the bone and will not dissipate anyway. I think your dentist is not quite up-to-date in this evolving field and is being unnecessarily alarmist and over-cautious.
The actual risk of you developing osteonecrosis is extremely low, and I would have no hesitation in treating you. Pretreatment would be antibiotic cover and a chlorhexidine mouthwash. It would also be a good time to critically assess all your other teeth as to the possibilty of future extractions, and to either extract now, or take measures to prevent complications e.g. crowns to prevent fractures.
Most cases of osteonecrosis have occurred in patients receiving high doses in hospital settings for cancer-related problems.
I attach a comprehensive article which is now a few years old. There was a new article just issued by the same authors which is less alarming, but I have been unable to find a web link for you.
Your dentist is absolutely right. Fosamax has been associated with a condition called osteonecrosis following extractions Though not every time, the possibility exist that you could have serious healing concerns. After consulting with your MD I would consider seeing a qualified Oral Surgeon and taking appropriate pre-op antibiotics to avert potential post-op complications. Good Luck and be thankful you go to a dentist who keeps appraised of recent pharmacology.
I take fosamax and this was new to me. After checking the WebMD site, there is a condition that is related to those who receive this treatment of the bone, intravenous for cancer. It states that rarely a person taking an oral form has developed this condition.
Either way, your dentist has decided that anyone taking this drug will be refused having a tooth extracted.
Check with your doctor and think about another dentist.
I totally agree with the first answer given. Dental extractions in patients that have been on fosamax have resulted in extremely painful experiences for patients. This is because the drug does not allow for natural healing of the extraction site; as a result the bone is left open without any tissue, and this inability to heal can lead to further bone loss which may result in further infection and even fracture. This condition is called osteonecrosis, and while incidence is low, the possiblity is there.
Here’s a link from the American Dental Association website in regards to this topic:
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/osteonecrosis.asp
As to how long before you can have your tooth extracted, that may depend on how long you have been on fosamax. You should see your medical doctor, and possibly an oral surgeon to better determine that.