“Bisphosphonates: Possible Modes of Action and Implications for Dental Implant Treatment. A Review of the Literature”

Abstract

Background: Bisphosphonates (BP) have been commonly used over the past 40 years to treat osteoporosis, Pagets' disease, hypercalcemia of malignancy, osteolytic lesions of multiple myeloma and bone metastases associated with breast, prostate, lung and other soft tissue tumours. With an increasing proportion of the population being prescribed oral bisphosphonates, in particular, it is inevitable that some of these patients may require or request implant therapy. Therefore the effects that these drugs may have on implant survival and success is very important.