{"title":"Two cases of tooth resorption in patients receiving denosumab therapy","authors":"Emily Y. Chu DDS, PhD, Eswar Kandaswamy BDS, MS, Vinayak Joshi BDS, MS, PhD, Janina Golob Deeb DDS, MS, Mauricio Ronderos DDS, MS, MPH, Stephen P. Russo DMD, Golnar Jahanmir DDS, Vardit Kram PhD, Alison Boyce MD, Martha Somerman DDS, PhD, Vivek Thumbigere-Math BDS, PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.adaj.2026.01.007","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Multiple external cervical root resorption (MECRR) is a rare, aggressive form of root resorption affecting multiple permanent teeth at the cementoenamel junction. A possible association between denosumab (DMAb), a receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-inhibiting antiresorptive medication, and MECRR has been proposed, although evidence remains limited.</div></div><div><h3>Case Description</h3><div>Two retrospective cases of MECRR were identified, including a 72-year-old woman receiving DMAb for osteoporosis and a 65-year-old man receiving high-dose DMAb for metastatic prostate cancer. In both cases, MECRR was first detected approximately 5 years after beginning DMAb therapy, without known predisposing factors. Lesions progressed despite professional intervention and rapidly worsened after DMAb cessation. Histology revealed multinucleated clastic cells with external resorption of cementum and dentin. One hypothesis is that localized, RANKL-independent osteoclastogenesis may potentially contribute to MECRR during DMAb treatment, subsequently exacerbated by rebound osteoclast activity on drug withdrawal.</div></div><div><h3>Practical Implications</h3><div>These cases illustrate a temporal association between DMAb therapy and MECRR but do not establish causality. Early recognition in patients receiving DMAb is important given the irreversible nature of MECRR. Interdisciplinary communication is important, and prospective and mechanistic studies are needed to clarify risk factors and develop preventive strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17197,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Dental Association","volume":"157 10","pages":"Pages 1213-1222"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4000,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of the American Dental Association","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002817726000590","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2026/3/2 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Multiple external cervical root resorption (MECRR) is a rare, aggressive form of root resorption affecting multiple permanent teeth at the cementoenamel junction. A possible association between denosumab (DMAb), a receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-inhibiting antiresorptive medication, and MECRR has been proposed, although evidence remains limited.
Case Description
Two retrospective cases of MECRR were identified, including a 72-year-old woman receiving DMAb for osteoporosis and a 65-year-old man receiving high-dose DMAb for metastatic prostate cancer. In both cases, MECRR was first detected approximately 5 years after beginning DMAb therapy, without known predisposing factors. Lesions progressed despite professional intervention and rapidly worsened after DMAb cessation. Histology revealed multinucleated clastic cells with external resorption of cementum and dentin. One hypothesis is that localized, RANKL-independent osteoclastogenesis may potentially contribute to MECRR during DMAb treatment, subsequently exacerbated by rebound osteoclast activity on drug withdrawal.
Practical Implications
These cases illustrate a temporal association between DMAb therapy and MECRR but do not establish causality. Early recognition in patients receiving DMAb is important given the irreversible nature of MECRR. Interdisciplinary communication is important, and prospective and mechanistic studies are needed to clarify risk factors and develop preventive strategies.
期刊介绍:
There is not a single source or solution to help dentists in their quest for lifelong learning, improving dental practice, and dental well-being. JADA+, along with The Journal of the American Dental Association, is striving to do just that, bringing together practical content covering dentistry topics and procedures to help dentists—both general dentists and specialists—provide better patient care and improve oral health and well-being. This is a work in progress; as we add more content, covering more topics of interest, it will continue to expand, becoming an ever-more essential source of oral health knowledge.