Possible Causes of Jaw Tingling

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Possible Causes of Jaw Tingling

Question:

I have tingling in the left side of my jaw. I am on Actonel once a week. Could this be causing this? I heard it can cause jaw problems?

Answer:

From your description of symptoms, it seems unlikely to me that Actonel (generic name: risedronate) is causing your symptoms.

Tingling is usually a symptom of nerve irritation. This could come from pressure on a nerve (from a swollen gland, for example), an infection in the gum, or an abnormal calcium level in the blood. There are many potential causes, but your medication would not be high on my list.

The jaw problem associated with risedronate (and related medications) is called osteonecrosis of the jaw. The blood supply to one of the jawbones is interrupted, which causes death of the bone. Symptoms and signs include pain, gum swelling, loosening of teeth and visible bone beneath the gum. Numbness and tingling may occasionally accompany this condition.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw is quite rare, especially from using the oral osteoporosis medications, such as alendronate (Fosamax), risedronate (Actonel), and ibandronate (Boniva). Current estimates suggest that the yearly incidence associated with these drugs is less than one in 100,000. Most cases have occurred with high dose intravenous drugs, such as zoledronic acid (Zometa), used for bone disease in cancer patients. It's not known why oral bisphosphonates cause osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Jaw tingling is only occasionally associated with osteonecrosis of the jaw. So, it's worth being checked out by your dentist just to be sure.

Robert Shmerling, M.D., is associate physician and clinical chief of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an associate professor in medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is an active teacher in the Internal Medicine Residency Program, serving as the Robinson Firm Chief. He is also a teacher in the Rheumatology Fellowship Program and has been a practicing rheumatologist for over 25 years.

Last updated:	July 20, 2009