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RE: New member - warned by dentist!

Mairead — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:01:42 GMT

I am on Risedronate nce a week 35mg, each time I go to dentist she always sends me to hospital for extractions. I do not mind this as I do not have to pay for this. However it take forever to get an appoint to actually see someone in the hospital unless it is emergency ie in great pain.

The last time I was at hospital they detected an infection in my mouth and they are going to take biopsy to find out what it is...if I was not attending the hospital dental hospital this would not have been detected.

RE: New member - warned by dentist!

suzy45 — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:23:28 GMT

I have terrible teeth and gums - always have had, despite caring for them and having a very good dentist, just bad genes!. I have had five or six teeth out so yes, I am worried about my teeth. But when I mentioned jaw necrosis to my GP she'd never heard of it, and when I told my dentist he said a simple extraction would be fine.

RE: New member - warned by dentist!

Sarah W — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:00:23 GMT

Dear NOS
It should be a standard question before AA is prescribed to ask 'Have you ever had invasive dental treatment? Are you likely to have invasive dental treatment? Do you have medical condition or take any prescription drugs that could affect the health of your teeth or gums'.

The anonymous poster was not warned of the potential dangers that AA could pose if dental treatment is needed, nor was I asked before I was prescribed AA.

I was asked 'do you worry about your teeth?' to which I replied 'No'. I do not 'worry' about my teeth because I get them checked regularly as my gums were in poor condition due to the AEDs I am prescribed - resulting in several exptractions and an implant. Had the docs known my dental history they should never have prescribed AA.

SarahW

RE: New member - warned by dentist!

FranE — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:07:13 GMT

Hi, everyone, Thanks for all your replies. Sorry for delay in replying, am still finding my way round the site. After visit to consultant and telling him I was no longer taking Alendronate, he put me on Protelos, which I am finding easier to take (no heartburn!) After reading Telegragph article am glad I made this decision. Thanks to the member who suggested taking Protelos in the middle of the night - I always have to get up sometime during the night, and if I have my medication then I don't have to worry about having a snack - apple, orange, or even chocolate, in the evening! FranE:)

RE: New member - warned by dentist!

Jilly Mayhew — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:12:51 GMT

My teeth are OK, thanks to a brilliant dentist... so should be OK!. Jill

RE: New member - warned by dentist!

JC — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:10:31 GMT

I got the following from an NHS web site:

"Alendronic Acid belongs to the class of drugs known as the Bisphosphonates. Medicines of this type are used to prevent the thinning of the bones which lead to the bone-wasting disease known as osteoporosis and also to treat osteoporosis once it has become established. Osteoporosis is associated with a substantial increase in bone fractures.

The mechanism of action is as follows. Under normal conditions the bone tissue is constantly being broken down and at the same time rebuilt by a process which involves specialised cells in the body. This re-modelling process ensures that a good quality of bone is maintained throughout life. In some situations, however, there may be an imbalance between the cells which break down the bone (the osteoclasts) and those that stimulate the manufacture of new bone (the osteoblasts). When the osteoclasts are relatively more active then reduced bone density and osteoporosis can occur. The Bisphosphonates are able to restore the balance by blocking osteoclasts thereby leading to a reduction in the bone wasting process."

Therefore, as I understand it, the aledronic acid is stopping the old bone being broken down. To generate additional bone density you need the calcium, vitamin D etc.

RE: New member - warned by dentist!

Jilly Mayhew — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:56:44 GMT

will mention this to my dentist next week, thought it may be good for your teeth, all this alendronate!:D

RE: New member - warned by dentist!

JayC — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:13:26 GMT

Hi FranE

I am relatively new to Osteoporosis, and whilst there are many alternatives and opinions on treatment,

It was explained to me (possibly over-simplified) that the standard treatment of Calcichew supplies your body with the replacement calcium, but it just floats about in your system,

The Alendronic Acid is what binds the floating calcium to the bone otherwise you not benefit from the treatment and continue losing bone mass!!

jay

RE: New member - warned by dentist!

April — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:05:22 GMT

There is another post about Dental and this drug and I think it is under Alendronic Acid side effects or something like that

New member - warned by dentist!

FranE — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:09:13 GMT

Hello everyone, I was diagnosed with osteo about 3 years ago by accident, having had backache which turned out to have been caused by arthritis, but a dexa scan revealed osteoporosis as well. I am 72. My doctor prescribed alendronate, which didn't suit me, so I continued with calcium and exercise for 2 years, but a further scan showed some deterioration, so I decided to give the alendronate another go. After about a month I visited my dentist, who, when he heard I was on alendronate, warned me to think very carefully about it, and I gather that many in the dental profession have doubts about the side effects of bi-phosphates, particularly in relation to extractions and implants (which I may have to have). Has anyone else had this reaction from a dentist? Needless to say, I have taken no more alendronate, and am due for a further hospital consultation next month with a view to having a different prescription.