Hi,
I did 2 months of zometa then switched to xgeva due to side effects of the zometa. I took xgeva for about a year and a half then had a small piece of exposed jaw bone. Oral surgeon said ONJ, onc said no more xgeva or any drug in it's class. Oral surgeon removed a large piece of upper jaw bone 4/23/19 (1.1 x 2.6 x3.3 cm). So far it is healing and did not affect my sinus thank god. I still have a hole in my gum a 5 weeks later that is healing . Oral surgeon says it will take time, and I will see him in mid June for a follow up.
Luckily the only tooth this cost me was my back upper molar, my wisdom teeth were removed when I was 16. the piece of upper jaw bone removed was big (1.1 x 2.6 x3.3 cm) but it was where the back molar, wisdom, and behind that. We were worried the sinus might open into mouth and be a big problem, with food and drink able to go in. But after the DR came out of surgery he said he didn't even see the sinus!! Now he says the hole is a "blind hole" not opening anywhere else, and will take time to heal. I have to rinse every time I eat, and he gave me a syringe to squirt water gently, but it seems to be getting smaller.
I am not sure if the bone will grow back, but as long as the gum fills in it will be fine. You can't tell by looking at me, it did not affect my cheek bone. If I press on my cheeks it feels a little more hollow?? He said that I would never be able to do an implant, but could wear a partial denture once it heals.
The tooth extraction was covered by dental and the jaw debridement was covered by my medical insurance.
It seems that ONJ is alot more common than they say. Oral surgeon said that zometa stays in your body up to 11 years, while xgeva uas a half life of 3 months.
Lisa