Simply Put: Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ)

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a rare but serious disease that can affect a person’s upper or lower jaw. First described in 2002, it is a progressive death of the jawbone in a person exposed to a medication known to increase the risk of disease, in the absence of a previous radiation treatment. Such medications are used to treat osteoporosis (brittle bones) or cancer such as multiple myeloma. The most common medications are bisphosphonates.

The full article can be accessed at https://www.joms.org/article/S0278-2391(21)00438-9/fulltext.

The Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is published by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons to present to the dental and medical communities comprehensive coverage of new techniques, important developments and innovative ideas in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Practice-applicable articles help develop the methods used to handle dentoalveolar surgery, facial injuries and deformities, TMJ disorders, oral and head and neck cancer, jaw reconstruction, anesthesia and analgesia. The journal also includes specifics on new instruments and diagnostic equipment, and modern therapeutic drugs and devices.