Alendronic acid and teeth

I am glad I read this thread. I am going to have an implant next Tuesday and have been taking Fosomax for ten months because I have osteoporosis [result of two and a half years on Prednisone]. I never told the Oral Surgeon that I was on Fosomax [was never told I should] when I had the tooth removed nine months ago but I will call the surgery tomorrow morning and let them know. The sugeon took full xrays last month to check on the bone since the extraction and said it was growing back well and was ready for the implant. Thanks for the heads up.

Andrew

Good morning ! Very thick polluted dark fog here....I have been reading about Alendronic Acid. My husband ( 89 )...bless him...has been taking AA for a few years,since he had a stroke. He had several falls...one down the stairs, which gave him a horrible black leg, no broken bones. One in the garden on patio stones, when he put on his new glasses. Only a bump on his head.... :roll: Then, when he tripped over on a footstool. And then the fall down the escalator with the shopping trolley....a bruise on his back, and a scratch on his forearm. No broken bones. :o Alendronic Acid, 70mg Tabs once weekly. Now, is AA only a suspicious Tab to take, when one is taking steroids ? I am taking Risedronate Sodium, 35mg once a week. Is this the same as AA ? Should I have a chat with the doctor about this ? :? Hope someone will help me on this. Thank you and at soon. Granny Moss.

Thank you Eileen H........ this is def going to be discussed next week with my doc. Off for bloods to be done this morning prior to seeing her next week. Hospital still haven't contacted me so I have to presume that the rheumy in his infinite wisdom is happy for me to plod on ' out of control' until he sees me end of March and when I have my first DEXA scan.

This week have been having awful stiffness and discomfort in lower hips and groins and tops of legs down to knees..... bothers me at night too... struggling to walk, even in the house. Going to have to drive to the surgery which annoys me as only a 10 min walk away

Magic wand available :lol: :lol:

Good morning Granny Moss.....not a good one here in the London/South East area either!

Alendronic Acid - yes maybe you should go and have a chat with your GP in view of all the recent publicity concerning possible adverse effects in the National press and also reading of the experiences on this forum (phew, makes me glad I'm not taking it!). Also, if you have never had a DEXA scan, then at the same time you could ask the GP to arrange one. I had never had one and when first diagnosed I asked if I one could be arranged to find out what the state of my bones was at the commencement of steroids so that I would have something to go by whilst on long-term treatment. I was refused one on the NHS :roll: so I had one done privately....all was well then but 2 years later osteopenia was diagnosed, no doubt due to the high starting dose of 40mgs. I'm now hoping that having been on the lower doses for some time the next one due this summer will not show any further deterioration. Thankfully, things seem to have been sorted out and there is now very little wait for the scan and certainly NO REFUSALS!

I don't know how long your hubby has been taking it but the latest advice seems to be not to take it for more than 5 years. Eileen will probably be able to add the scientific knowledge behind this.

Take care,

Mrs O

50sgirl - when did you start taking the AA? How did that match up with the muscle/joint pain getting so bad? These are actually side-effects of bisphosphonates and there is a page on this site about alendronic acid, taking it and side-effects where they say to tell your doctor if the muscle/joint pain is bothersome. IF they are connected for you - I'd say it was bothersome, wouldn't you???? I googled alendronic acid bone pain to look for links and then realised about the 4th or 5th was on this patient uk site. I suspect I have mentioned it before (so we'll blame steroid brain :roll: :lol: )

EileenH

Just bringing you up to date with the original subject of this post!

My dentist referred me to an orthodontic surgeon, re an extraction and the effects of AA. She then passed me on to the Maxillo Facial dept at the local hospital where I had an appt yesterday.

Doctor who saw me seemed quite clued up about AA, said my risk of getting necrosis of the jaw and subsequent infections was \"low to moderate\", this after taking AA for two years. I came off it in Dec. 2010 but this would make no difference as \"AA stays in the system for years\". So leaving the extraction for a few more months would make no difference, I suggested this as I haven't had any pain with the tooth.

He then pointed out that another tooth, on the other side, was very loose, also caused by AA and said that should come out too. I suppose having both out at once might help with the weight problem, if I can't eat for a few days!

He presumed I had osteoporosis, when I said No, he asked why I had been prescribed AA. When I said it seemed to come as a package with the steroids when I was first diagnosed,he made a sort of rather critical harrumphing noise and said that was interesting!

So I now wait for an appt for the extractions, and I go to see my GP on Friday which should be sort of interesting.

Keep those teeth clean everybody! GreenGranny

So an orthodontic surgeon is apparently as sceptical as me about the package of \"you're on steroids, so you need this, this and this...\"! Now there's interesting eh?

Time for some joined up thinking, methinks. (AA stays in the body for at least 10 years after you stop taking it - that's about the time since the first trials so we can expect that figure to increase. Maybe it'll be like plastic bags? We will rot in our coffins but the bits of AA-based bone will remain fo eternity :roll: :wink: :lol: )

EileenH

Hello Green Granny

Im glad to hear you have found someone who can sort your teeth out but it is very worrying having to have two extractions not one !

I certainly wouldnt have taken AA if I had been more informed about it The fact that it stays in the body so long is worrying I shall be mentioning at the Dentists next time I go and to my Dr too

Best wishes

Mrs G

Visited my new dentist today in fear and trembling having snapped noe of my two remaining teeth on a piece of crytallised ginger.

Had to change as my old one practised at the top of a nearly perpendicular flight of stairs.

Being a new patient, had to fill in all sorts of details including adverse reactions so of course AA was mentioned. I was there for forty minutes(!) just for examination and he asked all sorts of questions. How long did I take it ( six weeks ) How long ago? ( three years. )after which he pronounced that, although one side of my jaw was thinner than the other, he thought the risk of problems with the extraction would be negligible.

I remarked that this drug which was presented as a panacea not long ago was now regarded in some quarters with suspicion. He said that the trouble was that people became emotionally attached to the ideas presented to them early in their careers and found it hard to abandon them. A perceptive remark, I thought, from one who looked all of fifteen.

I was very impressed with the service offered. No, no need to go to the expense of a new denture. Just drop it off before ten and I can have it back with the new tooth at four, same day. Sadly, not NHS. they are like hens' teeth here.

Hello Betty

Glad you have had your teeth sorted out

Im not having any particular problems with my teeth but I took AA for 2 years ( wish I hadnt ) !! but only mentioned the steroids to the new Dentist so I will be interested in her opinion when I see her next

Mrs G

[quote:bb11e5f641]How long did I take it ( six weeks ) How long ago? ( three years. )after which he pronounced that, although one side of my jaw was thinner than the other, he thought the risk of problems with the extraction would be negligible.

[/quote:bb11e5f641]

Just an update:

Tooth was extracted yesterday at 4.30PM and all well. Came out in one piece, no excessive bleeding ( but was given sterile dressings in case ) New tooth a beautiful match and denture comfortable already ( but not ready for toast yet, of course. )

I have never had such careful attention. A pre - anaesthetic anaesthetic so I would \"feel no sharpness\" with the injection! I didn't.

I am to give it a fortnight and go back if not perfectly comfortable.

Anyone anywhere near Dereham, Norfolk, I would be delighted to recommend him. Trained at Barts and 7 years with the practice though he doesn't look old enough. :ok:

So pleased its all sorted BettyE. He sounds lovely, almost worth the journey :lol: Lovely day here in Basingstoke, just off to take my daughter shopping :diva:

Lizzie xx

BettyE

I just love good news and am so pleased you have met a wonderful dentist who obviously is going to look after you.

Its a lovely day here again and I just cannot believe the speed in the garden, its as though everything is rushing along,making up for lost time.

Three tulips out today and they should not be here till beginning of May, so I took a photo of them. Scarlet, singles and beautiful.

Betty E I am delighted all went well for you.......

Worries me that the AA can cause problems even if you only take it for such a short time :roll: :roll:

Well done Betty and what a relief - even though you only took AA for a short period of time, with all the bad press it's having it's still worrying isn't it. :D

Oh that I lived nearer that wonderful dentist of your's. I'm having problems following just a replacement filling last week where apparently the decay was almost to the nerve! The dentist used a rubber dam to protect my kidney when drilling out the old amalgam (replaced with white) - my first experience of that and it obviously has to clip very tightly around the tooth and against the gum. This was next to a gap where I had surgery a couple of years ago to remove a root and I think it may have been a bit sensitive because now it's raw and uncomfortable - I've tried to look and I can see the underside of the gum is quite black, so obviously bruised! I have also had neuralgia type pains in my head and face for the last few days and now I'm wondering if this is not caused by being caught out in strong wind as I first thought, but maybe by the drilling which has upset a nerve. Back tomorrow for the next lot of treatment so will see what the dentist makes of it!

The most gorgeous sunny and HOT day here so a friend and I have boosted our Vit D with a lovely walk by the Thames followed by a coffee in a delightful garden centre.

Off to Tai Chi shortly.