Oral Surgery · single question
A female patient who smokes has poor oral hygiene and is taking estradiol (oral contraceptives/HRT). She develops a dry socket after extraction. What is the MAIN causative factor?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Estradiol (estrogen therapy)
A) Estradiol (estrogen) — CORRECT as primary cause in this scenario.
Estrogen (including from oral contraceptives or HRT) increases fibrinolytic activity, causing premature breakdown of the blood clot. This is the strongest hormonal risk factor for dry socket. While smoking is also a major risk factor, the question highlights estradiol as the medication and is testing your knowledge of its specific role in clot lysis.
B) Smoking: Also a significant risk factor (causes vasoconstriction and reduced blood supply) but in this clinical scenario, estradiol is being highlighted as the key pharmacological risk factor.
C) Poor oral hygiene: A contributing factor but not the main cause when medications are involved.
D) Oral contraceptives: These contain estradiol/estrogen — same answer as A; the mechanism is the estrogen component.
Estrogen (including from oral contraceptives or HRT) increases fibrinolytic activity, causing premature breakdown of the blood clot. This is the strongest hormonal risk factor for dry socket. While smoking is also a major risk factor, the question highlights estradiol as the medication and is testing your knowledge of its specific role in clot lysis.
B) Smoking: Also a significant risk factor (causes vasoconstriction and reduced blood supply) but in this clinical scenario, estradiol is being highlighted as the key pharmacological risk factor.
C) Poor oral hygiene: A contributing factor but not the main cause when medications are involved.
D) Oral contraceptives: These contain estradiol/estrogen — same answer as A; the mechanism is the estrogen component.