Had some dental work done today

[hosehead_dolphy]

Hi..
I have a question about using the CPAP after having some dental work done today. I forgot to ask my dentist these questions. Maybe some of you have been through this already. I had an extraction and a root canal done. My question is.. should I use the CPAP for the first couple of nights after the dental work? I do not want to end up with dry socket and I am not sure if the CPAP would cause this or not. I was told not to use a straw or suck in air for a couple of days. Does the CPAP have any affect on this too? Thanks for your help!

[ems]

I would call my doctor - even if it is late. That's a reasonable question.

[archangle]

Hi..
I have a question about using the CPAP after having some dental work done today. I forgot to ask my dentist these questions. Maybe some of you have been through this already. I had an extraction and a root canal done. My question is.. should I use the CPAP for the first couple of nights after the dental work? I do not want to end up with dry socket and I am not sure if the CPAP would cause this or not. I was told not to use a straw or suck in air for a couple of days. Does the CPAP have any affect on this too? Thanks for your help!

Ask your dentist. For reference, 20 cmH20 is the highest pressure a CPAP will go to, unless you have a bilevel machine. This is equivalent to putting a straw in an 8 inch deep glass of water and gently blowing bubbles.

Even if the pressure isn't a concern, the airflow might be. If your mouth comes open and air leaks out your mouth, it might blow air across the bad spot on your jaw. Even if you don't normally mouth leak, you might leak because of pain/changes to your jaw.

I hate to say it, but I might risk no CPAP until I talked to the dentist unless you've got really bad apnea.

[hosehead_dolphy]

Thank you for your answers. My pressure is 10 on my machine. I just get the answering service when I call the dentist... so I just might have to not use the CPAP tonight. I do have a tendency to mouth breathe. Although I have been keeping my mouth shut I am pretty sure because I do not wake up with a dry mouth. I have been very happy with my Swift FX. Been getting fantastic sleep with it. I also have oxygen being bled in wiith my CPAP too.

[cflame1]

I didn't have dry socket issues when I had an extraction... what I did have issues with was the mask strap hitting the cheek above where the tooth was extracted.

[Mary Z]

I agree with Archangle. Talk to the dentist and if you can't get through to the dentist skip the CPAP for a few days.

[nanwilson]

I just had the same procedure in May, in fact the dentist broke the tooth at the root and had to do some "digging" to get at the rest of it. Consequently the hole is rather on the deep side. I slept with my cpap same night....no problems....actually never even thought about it, just hosed up.

[Pugsy]

Cpap use with root canal won't be an issue. I had one done in May. Used CPAP.

The extraction..... I don't know. I do know that they say no smoking or no sucking liquids with a straw because it might "suck" out the clot. I forget time frame..24 hours maybe. Not that we are actually sucking air... I would ask dentist.

[hosehead_dolphy]

Well, I slept without it last night.. Wish I did sleep with it now!! I am soo tired.. Do not think I slept too well. Not to mention, one night without the humidifier.. My nose was all stuffy again when I woke up! I will sleep with it tonight I think.. I sure did miss it last night!

[archangle]

Well, I slept without it last night.. Wish I did sleep with it now!! I am soo tired.. Do not think I slept too well. Not to mention, one night without the humidifier.. My nose was all stuffy again when I woke up! I will sleep with it tonight I think.. I sure did miss it last night!

Did you call the dentist and ask?

[Alshain]

Definitely call the Dentist and ask, but usually suction is the problem, not the force of the air itself, so I would think that using it should be ok.

[skylark40]

I experienced a similar problem two weeks ago: Tooth extraction (#19, lower molar), and whether to CPAP or not. I waited a couple days, but even then felt much more discomfort at the extraction site the next morning. My pressure is at 10, and I use the Swift LT for Her nasal pillow mask. I have to tape my mouth shut to keep from mouth breathing, and I think this may cause my cheeks to poof out a bit from the pressure. I think the poofing out strained the tissues around the extraction site. I have not used my CPAP since, but decided to wait until things are very well healed before I do. Logic would tell me not to use my CPAP the same day as I had an extraction. Same would hold true with tissue grafts for gum disease, I think.