Bisphosphonate administration prior to tooth extraction delays initial healing of the extraction socket in rats.

Bisphosphonates (BPs) are clinically used for the treatment of bone metabolic abnormalities because they are powerful inhibitors of bone resorption. Osteonecrosis of the jaw has been observed after tooth extraction in a considerable number of BP-treated cancer patients, but the reason for this is not known. We studied the effects of BP on extraction socket healing in rats that were pretreated with BP prior to tooth extraction.