Writing Tutor Ben Wang is one of the co-authors of "Characteristics of implant failures in patients with a history of oral bisophosphonate therapy," in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (March 2010).
Alongside his work in the Writing Center and his coursework in math and science, Ben has been doing research at the Division of Research at Kaiser Permanente. Ben is currently involved in another study that builds upon the work they published in March, focusing on the groundbreaking BRONJ (Biphosphonate Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw) research led by Dr. Joan Lo. The FDA's recent discovery of the relationship between osteoporosis "bisphosphonate" drug treatment and the rare bone disease Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ) has generated interest in the link between bone and oral health. Using FDA funding, Kaiser Permanente conducted the Predicting Risk of Osteonecrosis with Bisphosphonate Exposures (PROBE) study to examine 8572 individuals who received oral bisphosphonate drugs and completed a dental survey about implant placement and related complications. Ben and his co-authors investigated the frequency, location and timing of dental implant failure in relation to cumulative bisphosphonate exposure and will soon be publishing their results.