Forteo & Bone Loss in Teeth

Hi everyone! I an nearing my 2-yr end of taking Forteo injections. I had not had any side effects (that I am aware of) until I went to the dentist yesterday. My dentist is adamant that the Forteo has caused severe bone loss in my teeth. When I first began the Forteo, he could not find any information on this (only the Fosomax, Actonel, etc. cause necrosis in teeth). He now says that he has found information that the Forteo will destroy bone in teeth (that the bones in your teeth are unlike any bones in your body). Has anyone run across any information on this subject?

I do know that the Forteo is working. I had foot surgery before I began and my surgeon said that my bones were as soft as they could be. Ten months after starting the Forteo, I had the other foot done and he said that my bones were hard as a rock.

Any information would be appreciated. Thanks!

I'm sorry to hear this. I recently finished 2 years on Forteo and all of the dental check ups with my dentist he reported that my teeth had improved and I had very little decay. I haven't heard any side effects from Forteo oregarding bone loss in teethI just wonder if your dentist thinks that Forteo has the same side effect or negative consequences as those other meds. bisphosphates.

By the way, have you decided what treatment to pursue after you finish the Forteo. I'm finally getting in to see a second specialist for a nother opinion on what type of treatment I can pursue.

Blondie and Taape:
I am 5 months away from ending my 2yrs on Forteo. Let me know what choices you both come up with after seeing the specialist. I have my regular 6 month check up with my dr. next week and I have a whole list of questions for him so that I can really do my homework between now and when I stop the drug, so that I can make a totally informed decision. At this point I am going to ask him about Strontium and see what his opinion is. He is very involved in the latest research and goes to all the national and international conferences on Osteo, so it will be interesting to see what he says. I am really apprehensive about taking one of the bisphosphonates(orally or infusion) as I have never had to before the forteo. I am hoping he provides me with some alternatives that will maintain all the good results that the last 2 years have built up. I haven't heard anything about tooth decay with the forteo and my dentist hasn't said anything about my teeth. In the last year I have had 2 old mercury cavities replaced because they were starting to crack a little and he wanted to take care before they got to a worse point. I think those cavities were at least 15-20 years old and from what I understand the old mercury ones eventually need to be replaced with porcelin. I guess I could ask my dr. about the dental issue too.
Trail

Hi: Sorry to hear about this and hope you find a solution to it. Is the dentist planning anything in particular to help you with this, and has he mentioned stopping the Forteo? I sure hope he can help you out some how. Did you have any jaw bone loss before you started the Forteo? I've been trying to find some literature on this connection, and the only thing I can find is that Forteo increases bone density of the jaw. If it's not to much trouble could you ask your doc where he found this info?

I have bone loss in my jaw, but I've had it for years and it happened long before I started Forteo. I also have periodontal disease, so this connection between Forteo and bone loss of the jaw is concerning to me.

Good luck with this and let us know, if you can, where the info is coming from I would like to talk to my doc and dentist about it, because they're telling me that they have never heard of this problem.

P.S. I've read quite a few articles on Forteo and jaw bone increases but not bone loss of the jaw.

Thank you all so much for your responses!! Yes, I did have some bone loss before ever starting the Forteo, and that, I am most sure is heredity. I had tried the Fosamax several years ago and was unable to take it (thank goodness), as I've heard it does terrible things to your teeth bones. I have always prided myself and worked very hard to keep my teeth looking really good. And they do look fine on the surface. I left work on Monday and ran to the dentist really quick for a cleaning; they did x-rays and then he broke the news to me. I do not know where he got the negative information on the Forteo, but I am going to find out and I will let you know. A year ago, he said that he researched and could not find anything negative on the Forteo.... just on the Fosamax and such. I was really expecting my x-rays to be glowing, so I am really disappointed. I have no idea what I am going to do when I finish the Forteo (mid-Jan). I do take calcium supplements, but I don't think that will be enough. I'm not sure what to do to maintain it. My primary care physician retired, so we have a new one that took his place; do not know him well yet. I see him again in Feb and will discuss what to do now. Any ideas or advice would be most welcome!

Hi: I can't say what they will put you on after the Forteo, but my doc has mentioned using SERMS, like Evista. I have no idea if this advice will change, since I have a way to go before I finish the Forteo, so you could ask about this to see what your dr thinks. My dr has never mentioned taking bisphosphonates again, plus they didn't work. Hopefully by the time I finish they will hopefully be some other options.

Look in to all the alternatives and figure out which will cause the least amount of problems.

Good Luck with this and your dental situation. I my case all the jaw bone loss I have was from osteo, many years before I ever took Forteo.

Thanks for your anticipated help on finding out the source of this info on Forteo and jaw bone loss

HI! I read with interest your post on bone loss on teeth. Several months after starting on the Forteo I noticed that my teeth have been alot more sensitive to cold and also when I brush. My question here is can one really tell from an x-ray about tooth density, and how is bone density in the jaw diagnosed. Anyone know??? I do think this connection is worth looking into so thanks for bringing it up!!!
The best to all.

Hi: This link might help to explain ONJ... "Jaw Bone Loss" can be determined with a full set of dental x-rays. Sensitivity in the teeth "usually" doesn't have anything to do with jaw bone loss. Osteonecrosis (bone infection) and Jaw bone loss are two different conditions.

[url]http://www.nof.org/patientinfo/osteonecrosis.htm[/url]

Yes, they can absolutely tell bone loss from dental x-rays. I saw them for myself. My dentist said that he needed to get a plan together. I go back Jan 16 for full mouth x-rays. I do know that I have so much bone loss in two teeth that I am going to have to have them pulled (and that kills me)! One tooth is in the back; ok, I can live with a bridge there. The other one is lower right towards the front; it is what they call reabsorption from the outside in (which means the tooth is just going away). My dentist wants to do something before it just falls out or complete dissolves. They do not really know what causes this, but did not have it before starting the Forteo. It may just be a quinkydink; who knows. But from the x-rays, there is very little bone holding the tooth in place. I don't know the answer to this, but can you have a tooth implant if there is no bone. I would rather have that than a bridge, but I know that they are very expensive and not sure if my dental insurance will pay on that. I did not have the sensitivity to cold when I started the Forteo. You may want to mention that to your dentist. I do not know how they determine jaw bone loss. I will find out a lot more when I see my dentist again on Jan 16. I'm going to find the source of the Forteo negativity. I want to see it in writing before I believe it. Take care; we'll talk soon!

One more thing, I must confess. I drink a TON of cokes and have my entire life. I know that has not helped, although my dental hygenist said that you would never know it to look at my teeth. Good heavens, I had cokes before I had breast milk and I told my Dr. that. I really wish my Mother had not allowed me to have them. I am so hooked on them that when I travel I am petrified that I won't be able to find a coke machine.

My husband and I are expecting two grandbaby girls in May. Both of his daughters are pregnant and due on the very same day. I have already told both girls that their children will never get a coke at my house (or any soft drink for that matter).

Well, that's all for now.

I have about two more months to finish up my two years on Forteo. This year, I had some dental work done to try to graft in some cells where I was losing bone around one tooth. I had been warned by my dentist years ago that my x-rays showed a problem in this area. It's apparently an anomaly because the rest of my mouth is OK with no radical bone loss. Because this showed up years ago (and I postponed going for the bone graft -- my bad) I don't think it has anything to do with the Forteo, but I'm passing it along for you to factor into your research.

Spinewhne-How is the bone grafting procedure done? I've had some filling material put directly on a tooth to bring the tooth down to the gum which was too low.