Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: what we have learned.

Bisphosphonate related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ) is an entity that has become prevalent upon the dental and medical community for more than 10 years. This entity is unfortunate because both oral and intravenous nitrogen containing bisphosphonates have beneficial effects for patients for certain conditions. The exact pathology of BRONJ has yet to be determined, although many hypotheses have been put forth. Since its prevalence, a clinical staging system has been developed and radiological findings have been described. BRONJ can be prevented if oral healthcare is undertaken before the start of bisphosphonate therapy or after a short time from the start of their use. However, after BRONJ has developed in patients, a myriad of treatments have been proposed that may help these patients.