Abstract
Osteonecrosis of the jaws is a rare but serious adverse effect of systemic adjuvant oncological and osteomodulation therapy, the sam in patients with metabolic skeletal diseases. In the present paper the authors summarizes the current knowledge of medication - related osteonecrosis of the jaw, dealing with the pathogenesis, epidemiology, risk and initiating factors, clinical manifestations, work-up, staging, prevention and treatment.
During the past 10 years changes towards extensive surgical approaches in the strategy and treatment are noticeable. A shared consensus of all specialists, oncologists, osteologists, dentists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons on the importance of preventive oral health care and comprehensive dental treatment prior to osteomodulation therapy is becoming a common rule.