Risk assessment and sensitivity meta-analysis of alveolar osteitis occurrence in oral contraceptive users.

BACKGROUND In this study, the authors conducted an alveolar osteitis (AO) risk assessment and global sensitivity meta-analysis within populations using oral contraceptives (OCs). Sex, smoking, and timing within the menstrual cycle were considered as factors. TYPES OF STUDIES REVIEWED Eligibility criteria for inclusion of a study in the meta-analysis were experimental or medical record survey data evaluating AO and OC use, ability to draw pairwise comparisons for factors of interest, and description of the number of AO events relative to the number of participants in the respective group. RESULTS The risk ratio of AO in females not using OCs was 1.2 greater (P ≤ .05) than that in males. Among females, OC use significantly increased (P ≤ .05) the average risk of AO occurrence by nearly 2-fold (13.9% versus 7.5%). There was no statistical evidence of lower risk in females menstruating at the time of exodontia. In 85.7% of the studies, smokers had an overall higher rate (P ≤ .05) of AO than did nonsmokers. CONCLUSIONS AND PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS To mitigate the increased risk of AO occurrence in females, the dentist should be cognizant of patients using OCs and smoking tobacco.