Osteoporosis Drug May Rebuild Jawbone

An osteoporosis drug also may help to rebuild lost bone in the jaw, two new studies have found. One study describes a woman who had taken the osteoporosis drug alendronate (Fosamax) for 10 years. She developed a rare side effect called osteonecrosis in her jaw. This condition kills bone cells. Doctors tried treating her jaw with a different osteoporosis drug. This drug was teriparatide (Forteo). It is a form of parathyroid hormone made in a laboratory. This drug stimulates the body to rebuild lost bone. After 8 weeks of teriparatide injections, the woman’s jaw healed. Another study involved 40 people. They had bone loss in the jaw caused by periodontal (gum) disease. They all had jaw surgery. Then they were randomly assigned to receive either teriparatide or fake (placebo) injections. They were treated for 6 weeks. People who got the teriparatide healed better.