birth control and oral surgery

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-20-2004
birth control and oral surgery
3
Tue, 04-20-2004 - 1:11am
Hi, I was wondering if anyone could help me. I've been on the pill (Ortho Tri-Cyclen) for 1 year and 8 months now, and I have to have my wisdom teeth pulled. Why do they ask if you're on birth control or not? I had surgery once before, and I had my gallbladder removed, and I was fine. The gallbladder surgery was last summer. Help!!! Should I be worried about this?

thanks a million

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Tue, 04-20-2004 - 10:15am
Hi noangel5869, welcome!

That would be a great question to ask your oral surgeon. It might have to do with any meds s/he might use or prescribe, if you were given an Rx for an antibiotic for example. If that was the case then you should use back-up while you are taking your meds and for at least 7 days afterward. If I were you, I’d ask my doc why the question about BC. I don’t think you need to be worried, just be prepared. I hope your surgery goes well.

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-01-2003
Tue, 04-20-2004 - 12:15pm
I just had my wisdom teeth out in January, and I was taking Desogen at the time. MAKE SURE that you tell your doctor you are on birth control because women who are on birth control are more likely to get dry sockets (the extremely painful complication where your facial nerve is exposed to air). I ended up soooo sick for about three days with dry sockets, and it could have been prevented by scheduling my wisdom teeth removal on my non-active pill week. I hope that helps! =)
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Tue, 04-20-2004 - 1:36pm
I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth taken out 3 years ago. I wasn't on birth control at the time but I rememeber being ask by the nurse if I was on them, because, as mentioned, some of the complications they can cause when mixed with certain meds. More than likely you will be given antibiotics afterwards so your mouth doesn't get infected, so you will need to use back-up while on the antibiotics.

As well, you will probably be given pain medicine afterwards, I'm not sure if they can effect the effectiveness of the pill but that you should ask about as well. I'm sure Tylonal or Advil won't have an effect on your pill, yet when I had mine out I was given Demoral, so all pain meds may have different side effects.

One last point, beware of becoming sick. I'm just going by my personal experience and I'm sure not everyone goes through this when they get their wisdom teeth out but I was very VERY sick for about 3 days afterwards (severally dehydrated from throwing up and not being able to eat-I swollowed too much blood during the surgery so it all had to come back up somehow!! sorry, TMI). So if you are sick like I was, also remember to use backup probably for the rest of your cycle.

Good luck,

~Brookie