Bisphosphonate-associated Osteonecrosis of the Jaws: a Survey of the Level of Knowledge of Dentists about the Risks of Bisphosphonate Therapy.

Abstract

Bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaws (BAONJ) is a side effect of treatment with bisphosphonate (BP). Reports of this complication have increased recently. To evaluate the level of knowledge of dentists from Plovdiv, Bulgaria, about possible complications of bisphosphonate therapy of patients in dental practice. Three hundred and twenty-three dental practitioners from Plovdiv, Bulgaria, took part in an anonymous survey containing 25 questions, designed to evaluate the knowledge of dentists about the complications of BP therapy. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons have the best knowledge about the indications and side effects of BP therapy, while dentists with a specialty in Pediatric Dentistry and General Dentistry have insufficient knowledge. Of the respondents, 17.03% are absolutely uninformed about BP and their side effects, and 1/2 declare that they have never had a patient with complications from BP therapy in their practice, probably due to a lack of awareness of the problem. Approximately half of the dentists we surveyed agree to carry out prophylactic examinations of patients receiving BP and know what the prophylactic examination includes. Only 15.48% of the respondents have correctly responded that in order to be treated as clinically healthy, patients should have stopped taking BP for more than 10 years. With the exception of specialists in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, dental practitioners in Plovdiv and the region are poorly informed about the complications associated with BP therapy. Therefore, efforts must be made to make these dentists better informed about BAONJ, especially about the methods and means of preventing this condition.