Wisdom tooth removal: relationship between HBC and dry socket?

[hardtogetover.livejournal.com]

I'm getting a wisdom tooth removed on October 5th (just one tooth, the lower right one). I am also currently on the Nuvaring. I've heard that being on hormonal bc can contribute to the chances of getting the dreaded dry socket. How true is this? If it's true, what are some ways I can get around this? I'm away from my calendar right now, but if I can try for a ring-free week around that day, would that be helpful? Thanks!

Comments

[alwaysamommy.livejournal.com]

Usually the hormones from birth control attack the teeth and gums gradually. I've never heard that it happens all at once, like if you take the pill and pop one before you leave to go to the dentist, for instance. Maybe someone has more insight than me but I don't think it's something that one week less of hbc will help. :(
Also, I had all 4 of mine removed at once. Only one was a dry socket. I think it's just luck, really.

[cpht.livejournal.com]

I had all four of my out at once just a few months ago. I have been on hbc for over seven years. I didn't get any dry sockets. My dentist had told me of ways to try to prevent them and I did my best to follow them and it worked. The main thing he said was to not use a straw until the incisions were healed. I guess the sucking action of the straw can make them more likely to happen. For the first two days all I ate was pudding, jello, ice cream, mac n cheese, and frosty's! My oral surgeon also gave me a medrol dose pak which is a steroid and I think that helped as well.

Good Luck!

[pinkdramon.livejournal.com]

I had my wisdom teeth removed when I was 18.

I was not on hormonal birth control at that time.

I still got a dry socket.

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[blit-z.livejournal.com]

I'm going to get my wisdom teeth out in December and reading about all the complications is freaking me out! And now this about HBC increasing the chances of getting dry socket? :S However it seems that most sources point out oral contraceptives as the culprit... so being on the ring might be different.

Anyhow I found this information on this second site that came up on a search for 'dry socket':
http://www.dentalgentlecare.com/dry_socket.htm

Oral contraceptive may increase pain after wisdom tooth extraction

That tests on 267 women showed that those on the birth control pill were more susceptible than non-users to both postoperative pain and a condition known as 'dry socket.' In this condition, normal healing of the vacant tooth socket is delayed by the failure of a blood clot to form. Infection instead causes the socket to remain empty. In the study, pain on the day after the operation was experienced by 30 percent of pill takers compared to just 11 percent of non-users. Five days after the operation the difference was 14 percent compared to 5 percent. The researchers said these results suggest that the pill may reduce the pain threshold. The differential was similar when the development of dry socket was compared. Here, 11 percent of pill users were affected compared to 4 percent of non-pill users.

SOURCE: British Dental Journal 2003;194:453-455.


This source was from four years ago, so maybe there might be more information for ring users out there...

[cfoxrun.livejournal.com]

I got my wisdom teeth out 2 years ago, and I had been on hormonal birth control for years before that and I didn't get a dry socket. Just be careful, eat soft foods, and listen to what your doctors say.

[yourcottonsheet.livejournal.com]

while studies have said that HBC CAN increase the risk of dry sockets, if you follow the doctors intstructions on aftercare, you should be pretty good. a dry socket is a dislodged clot, which is usually a result of suction (drinking with a straw), consuming really hot foods, something getting back there. ive had many female friends on HBC have no problem with dry sockets during the wisdom tooth process

good luck!!

[agata.livejournal.com]

Hm, really. Aw, no one told me! I had my wisdom teeth out in June and on the pill throughout all this. No problems, at all.

[agata.livejournal.com]

Make sure to NOT spit out blood and NOT drink from a straw, the man reasons of dry socket, I believe! :P

[communistcow.livejournal.com]

oh gosh this is not helpful, but I had my wisdom teeth out when I was 14 and I got dry socket.. It's the worst thing in the world. I think I have a mental block on it because I don't remember it very often, but when I think of it .... oh gosh SEARING PAIN. worst thing ever. :/ Goodluck!