Effectiveness of Pharmacists’ Recommendations for Dental Examinations for Prevention of Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

Abstract

Bone resorption inhibitors, such as bisphosphonates, infrequently cause refractory medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). Oral care, including maintaining oral hygiene and preventing oral infections, is important for preventing MRONJ. However, the extent of oral care in patients taking bisphosphonates is unclear. We recommended dental visits to 790 outpatients taking bisphosphonates who visited the pharmacy at Ehime University Hospital. The effect of this recommendation was determined by evaluating changes in the rate of dental visits within 6 months among patients with and without a family dentist. Following recommendations by pharmacists, the dental visit rate increased from 46.2 to 67.6%, and the proportion of patients with a family dentist increased from 55.9 to 76.5%. Furthermore, patients with a family dentist had a significantly higher rate of dental visits than those without a family dentist (79.9 vs. 6.8%). The findings in this study suggest that pharmacists' recommendations for oral health care may lead to early detection and avoidance of MRONJ.