BLEEDING FREQUENCY OF PATIENTS TAKING TICAGRELOR, ASPIRIN, CLOPIDOGREL, AND DUAL ANTIPLATELET THERAPY AFTER TOOTH EXTRACTION

For the most part, patients who are on anticoagulation regimens can modify their treatment prior to minor elective surgery to reduce the frequency of bleeding problems during the post-treatment healing period (JADA 149(2) February 2018, Pgs. 132-138). In cases where the patient cannot be off of their anticoagulant medications, there are techniques to help to reduce the bleeding risks – such as electrocautery, primary wound closure, and use of clot stabilizing medications or bioactive materials such as PRGF in the sites – which reduce these concerns significantly.

There are still cases that require more specialized techniques. We can predict these in some cases by looking at the bleeding indices, but there are often unseen and even obscure issues which contribute to ongoing bleeding problems. Often unseen problems with the quality (qualitative) of the coagulation factors and coagulation mechanisms. Patients with these concerns often have general health and nutrition problems which give an additional onlay of risks with poor healing capacity.

The bottom line is to be sure to be looking at the whole patient and address as many of the issues as possible to give the best chance for an uncomplicated outcome.