Patients in a retrospective study showed no ill effects of continuing on their antiplatelet regimens -- even if they were using a dual antiplatelet therapy -- while having invasive dental treatments, according to researchers from Carolinas Medical Center.
Antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel (Plavix) are often used alone or in combination with aspirin to prevent blood clotting, particularly in patients who have had heart disease, particularly if they have stents or artificial valves. Because the drugs increase the risk of bleeding, some practitioners advise patients to discontinue their antiplatelet therapy before having a tooth extracted.
Previous research found scant risk of dental treatments on patients using a single antiplatelet, and no study had examined what happens when patients are using more than one, the researchers wrote.
In this study, published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association (Vol. 140:6, pp. 690-695), 29 patients (67%) were receiving dual antiplatelet therapy. The patients had undergone 88 invasive dental procedures, including extractions, periodontal surgery, and scaling and planing.
The researchers found no differences between patients receiving single or dual antiplatelet therapy for all variables. These included the number of invasive procedure visits, total extractions, and adjunctive hemostatic measures. None of the patients experienced prolonged bleeding.
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