Clinical decision-support only. For use by licensed dental professionals. Not a substitute for professional judgment or a complete drug reference. Always verify with primary sources.
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Medication

Combined oral contraceptive (estrogen/progestin)

Hormonal contraceptive

Brand names: Various

Oral health effects

  • Exaggerated gingival inflammation

    Sex hormones can heighten the gingival inflammatory response to plaque (historically more so with older high-dose formulations).

    Mechanism: Hormonal modulation of gingival vasculature and immune response.

    Clinical management: Reinforce plaque control; note historical reports of higher dry-socket risk after extraction.

Sources

  1. Adverse drug events in the oral cavity. Yuan A, Woo SB. Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology, 2015.