Angie you cannot have a tooth pulled while on Zometa or within a time period. My husband saw an oral surgeon who felt his time was safe and he followed up with him.
July 26
Yes, osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a known risk with Zometa (zoledronic acid). It's not super common, but it does happen — affecting roughly 3% to 11% of people taking bisphosphonates like Zometa. The risk increases the longer the medication is used.
One MyMyelomaTeam member shared: "On Thursday I had a dental Show Full Answer
Yes, osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a known risk with Zometa (zoledronic acid). It's not super common, but it does happen — affecting roughly 3% to 11% of people taking bisphosphonates like Zometa. The risk increases the longer the medication is used.
One MyMyelomaTeam member shared: "On Thursday I had a dental procedure for osteonecrosis of the jaw. The infection was scraped out and sent out for biopsy. I am doing well. I can only eat soft foods for now."
Signs to watch for include:
- Loose teeth
- Exposed jawbone
- Pus or discharge in the mouth
- Unusual swelling or tenderness If ONJ is a concern, there are some important steps and alternatives worth discussing with both an oncologist and a dentist:
- Pause bisphosphonates: Zometa treatment can be paused 90 days before and after any necessary invasive dental work to support healing.
- Denosumab (Xgeva): This is another medication used to protect bones in myeloma. However, it has also been linked to ONJ, so it's not entirely risk-free either.
- Regular dental monitoring: Preventive care and routine checkups can catch ONJ early — one MyMyelomaTeam member noted their ONJ was caught on a routine dental exam.
It's really important that the oncologist and dentist communicate with each other about the best path forward, as most dentists don't regularly treat people with myeloma and may need guidance on the risks involved.
July 23
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