During your visit to our office, you will be asked if you are taking any medications for osteoporosis, commonly referred to as bone density medications.. This is important for Dr. Jekel and his team to know. While these medications known as antiresorptive agents (Boniva, Fosamax, Actonel, Atelvia, Didronel among others) are prescribed to help strengthen bone, they have been associated with a rare, but serious condition called osteonecrosis. Osteonecrosis is a disease caused by reduced blood flow to bones. With too little blood, the bone starts to die and may break down. It is important to understand that this is a rare condition. When a patient is prescribed one of these medications, it is wise for her or him to visit the dentist to ensure good dental health and to maintain good oral health and hygiene during treatment for osteoporosis by visiting the dentist regularly as recommended by her or his dentist. Additionally, certain dental procedures should be avoided for patients taking these medications. Procedures that affect the bone or associated tissue such as tooth extractions or periodontal surgery can cause the patient to develop osteonecrosis of the jaw bone (ONJ). It is not possible to determine who might develop this condition. More than 90% of those diagnosed with ONJ are patients taking the medication as repeated, high dose chemotherapy infusion for the treatment of cancer. Therefore, it is imperative that Dr. Jekel and his team be informed of any patient taking antiresorptive agents so as to determine the proper course of dental treatment.