There has been a recent discovery directly linking osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) to the use of bisphosphonates medications. Osteonecrosis is an infection of the bone that will not respond to antibiotics. There are two classifications of the drug which have two very different levels of risk for ONJ. First, the most common medications are the oral drugs used for the treatment and prevention of osteopenia/osteoporosis. Those medications would include Fosamax, Actonel, and Boniva. In patients taking one of these drugs for more than three years, there is a slight increased risk of developing ONJ following an invasive dental procedure like an extraction or periodontal surgery. The other classification of this drug is used intravenously for the treatment of some forms of cancer. Examples of these drugs would be Aredia and Zometa. Patients having taken these drugs are at greatest risk for developing ONJ. We will talk to about your individual risk factors during your examination, and plan your treatment needs accordingly.