From Dental Tribune USA Jan 24/12
NEW YORK, N.Y., USA: Cardiac patients who take anticoagulant medications and need a tooth extraction face an increased risk of bleeding that must be addressed by the treating clinician. Therefore, experts say, a protocol for heart patients is needed that will avoid significant bleeding after dental extractions without suspending anticoagulant therapy. A study reported in the Journal of Oral Implantology evaluated the use of leukocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin biomaterial. This material is commonly used in dentistry to improve healing and tissue regeneration. It was tested as a safe filling and hemostatic material after dental extractions in 50 heart patients undergoing oral anticoagulant therapy. These heart patients had mechanical valve substitutions, and then were placed on anticoagulant oral therapy with warfarin. It is not recommended that the anticoagulant be suspended and replaced with heparin before a minor surgery, although this substitution may control the risk of postoperative bleeding. Read full article
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