Knowledge and Prevention Practices Regarding Medication-related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws (MRONJ) among Jordanian Dentists: Cross-sectional Observational Study

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge and prevention practices of Jordanian dentists regarding medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ). Materials and methods: An electronic-based survey was distributed among dentists practicing in Amman-Jordan. Survey sections included 16 items on: socio-demographic information, knowledge regarding MRONJ, and clinical practices concerning the prevention and management of MRONJ. A knowledge score was devised to evaluate each participant’s overall understanding of MRONJ and the related medications. The data was statistically analyzed, and a P-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: The total number of participants in the study who completed the questionnaire was 186 (105 females and 81 males, with a mean age of 34.3 years). The mean Knowledge Score (KS) of the study population was 9.5 out of 18. This indicates that the largest variety of participants responded correctly to more than 50% of the questions related to knowledge about MRONJ. The highest mean KS of 15 was observed among oral medicine specialists, while the lowest mean KS of 8.5 was found among general practitioner dentists. Regarding the clinical management and whether the participants would proceed with exodontia in different clinical scenarios, the majority of the participants were unsure and would rather refer the patient to a specialist before exodontia in patients taking IV bisphosphonates. As for the study participants, most of them were able to correctly identify the preventative measures, and as the mean KS increased, more preventative measures and more treatment options were correctly identified. Conclusions: Reinforcement of MRONJ awareness and knowledge among general dentists and dental specialists is essential in the management and prevention of MRONJ in ‘at-risk’ patients. Keywords: Knowledge score, Medications, MRONJ, Prevention, Osteonecrosis.