Patients at risk of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) -New guidance from SDCEP

New guidance on the Oral Health Management of Patients at Risk of Medication-related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw is launched today by the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP).

This document updates previous SDCEP Oral Health Management of Patients Prescribed Bisphosphonates guidance and considers the wider range of drugs that have been implicated in the development of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ).

Michaelina Macluskey,joint chair of the guidance development said;

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a rare side-effect of treatment with certain drugs. This new guidance provides clear and practical advice on how to advise and care for patients prescribed these drugs, focused on the prevention of MRONJ. By following this guidance, practitioners can raise patient awareness of the potential health implications of taking these drugs and encourage measures to prevent dental disease, and therefore the need for dental treatment, at an early stage

The guidance document can be downloaded from the SDCEP website