Professional paper

Dental Procedures in Patients Receiving Oral Anticoagulant Therapy

Petar Gaćina
Dubravka Čaržavec
Vladimir Stančić
Vlatko Pejša

Abstract

There is a widespread belief among physicians and dentists that oral anticoagulant therapy must be discontinued before and for some time after dental procedures. This practice may increase the risk of potentially life-threatening thromboembolism. The present literature does not support routine discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy for dental patients. There is a theoretical risk of bleeding after dental surgery in patients at therapeutic levels of anticoagulation, however, it is minimal and may be greatly outweighed by the risk of thromboembolism upon anticoagulant therapy withdrawal. Thus, dental extractions can be performed without modification of oral anticoagulant therapy. In most patients local hemostasis with gelatin sponge, fibrin glue, sutures and/or mouthwash with tranexamic acid or e­aminocaproic acid is sufficient to prevent postoperative bleeding.

Keywords

Anticoagulants - therapeutic use; Oral surgical procedures -adverse effects; Blood loss, surgical - prevention and control; Anticoagulants -contraindications; Thromboembolism - prevention and control; Oral hemorrhage -prevention and control

Hrčak ID:

14056

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/14056

Publication date:

1.6.2006.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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