Estrogen and Dry Sockets

[inmycrease.livejournal.com]

I’m planning on getting my wisdom teeth out soon and the Dr. mentioned that 1/200 of his patients suffer from dry sockets after surgery but that 1/7 of his patients that are female and on birth control will have dry sockets. When I asked, he said that this was because of the estrogen in birth control and that it will actually break down the blood clot and that’s why dry sockets are so prevalent. I am on the depo shot and from what I understand it is estrogen free. Obviously I will still take all preventions against dry sockets, but do you lovely people think that I’m still at that 1/7 risk? Thanks so much for any info. Hope the info I got today is relevant to others.
Have a great rest of the weekend VPers and thanks in advance!

Comments

[argyle-skull.livejournal.com]

I've been on HBC for 7 years and didn't have any problems with dry socket. I was suuuuuuper careful because I was totally paranoid about it happening.

[meximanian.livejournal.com]

I'm on depo and had my wisdom teeth taken out last march. No dry sockets! My dentist was great though and made sure I knew how to take care of myself etc after surgery.

Good luck w/it!

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

isn't depo just progesterone though? I didn't think it had any estrogen in it, although I may be mistaken.

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

Oops, sorry...I understand your comment now that I re-read the OP and realized that she's on depo too. Dur.

[evillittlekiwi.livejournal.com]

i was on the pill for a few years when i had all 4 wisdom teeth pulled out...and no problems what so ever! I just followed all the instructions for aftercare. =)

[jenn-possible.livejournal.com]

Me too! I just avoided straws and smoking (which was pretty easy, since I don't smoke lol).

[areawoman.livejournal.com]

I had dry socket when I got my wisdom teeth out, and while it sucked, it wasn't the end of the world. If you do end up getting it (or think you might), go in right away -- as soon as they packed it, I felt SO MUCH BETTER.

[a-mutewitness.livejournal.com]

I am on HBC and when I had my widsom teeth out I didn't have any problems at all. I wasn't even being too careful to avoid dry socket at all. I think you should be fine! Just be careful with following the aftercare instructions!

[weightofourlove.livejournal.com]

What's a dry socket, and why is it bad?

(I'm going to get my wisdom teeth out this summer & I'm on BC...so apparently I'm at risk for something I've never even heard of) :(

[jmnstars.livejournal.com]

I had my wisdom teeth out while on BC and didn't even KNOW about dry socket. I took all the normal precautions to keep my sockets clean and took care of the areas normally. I'm fine, and it's been a few years.

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

I don't think you would be. I can't find any information about progesterone increasing the risk of dry socket.

[jenn-possible.livejournal.com]

And sometimes doctors just kind of make shit up. I know that sounds really bad, but a lot of medical professionals will see something a few times and develop some idea that they end up spreading even though it's not been proven through studies.

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

Well, it is true that estrogen increases risk of dry socket...so if the vast majority of his BC using patients were using combined BC...that would make sense. But yeah, you'd think that a doctor (a doctor!) would know the difference between combined and progesterone only. I know he's a dentist...but still.

[kizateetazik.livejournal.com]

I've never heard of this problem before, and my doctor didn't mention it to me when I got my wisdom teeth out, despite the fact that I was on hormonal birth control at the time. I didn't get a dry socket and I don't know anyone who had had one, male or female. If your doc does a good job and you take good care afterwards, you should be fine no matter what!

[kuni-bob.livejournal.com]

Regardless of whether or not he's correct: given that you're on progesterone-only, I don't think you're in the category he mentioned anyway.

Good luck!!

[anyakitty.livejournal.com]

I am on the pill and had my wisdom teeth taken out in spring. My dentist is a genius (seriously, I refuse to let anyone else in my mouth) and I had zero complications, and NO pain to speak of!! Anyway, I would not worry about your birth control method contributing to your risk of dry socket, but I WOULD worry about dry socket in general. I know people who have gotten it and it is apparently the most painful thing ever, and the treatment for it (packing, etc) is also very painful.

My dentist told me I could eat soup or something soft as soon as the night after my teeth got pulled, but I abstained from eating anything and would recommend that to you as well if you think you are at an elevated risk for dry socket. Other than that, when you DO begin to eat again, just make sure you rinse REALLY WELL (and really gently!) after every meal until you are healed.

[octopussneakers.livejournal.com]

I had my wisdom teeth taken out almost 4 years ago, and got two dry sockets. Yeah it sucks, but it's not anything to get freaked out about. Basically it prolongs the healing process, so you get creative with a blender (you can in fact have a cheeseburger...condiments work well as liquifiers) and while it probably means you'll be in pain longer, it's not bad, I'm a wimp and it wasn't too bad. The packings, are uncomfortable, and cause a dull throbbing that goes away within 15 minutes and then you don't notice them till you get them changed (and a tip I picked up is to take one of the pain meds they give you right before you go in, so it'll kick in and kill the pain)

[octopussneakers.livejournal.com]

also, dry sockets and infections are NOT the same thing. Eating foods or rinsing will not prevent dry sockets, it will prevent infection, but not dry sockets, dry sockets are when the clot falls out of the hole (my dentist actually told me it was the same chemical process as menstruation)