Background
Oral bisphosphonates are widely used in the treatment of bone resorptive diseases. There is an evidence that oral bisphosphonates can exert adverse effects on the oral mucosa independently of their effects on the jaw bones.
Objective
To systematically map the literature on adverse effects of oral bisphosphonates on the oral mucosa of adults with bone resorptive diseases.
Design
Scoping review of the literature, including different study designs.
Methods
Systematic searches of the PubMed, LILACS, Google Scholar and EMBASE databases were conducted. Two independent reviewers screened titles and abstracts according to predetermined criteria.
Results
The search retrieved 26 unique articles, comprising 22 case reports, one case series and three reviews describing a total of 56 cases of oral adverse events related to oral bisphosphonates. 88% of the reported cases were female suffering from comorbidities other than metabolic bone diseases. The improper use of the oral bisphosphonate was the most suspected cause of the adverse effect on the oral mucosa. Its management mainly involved withdrawal of the medication.
Conclusion
Adverse effects on the oral mucosa can develop from using oral bisphosphonates. Standardised registration of these adverse effects in university clinics and private practises could provide additional information about their occurrence and severity.