Some problems with anticoagulants in dental surgery

Abstract

Anticoagulants have been used to reduce the risk of embolic and thrombotic complications in patients at risk since the discovery of the coumarin drug warfarin sodium in 1941. Since then, both the spectrum of disease for which anticoagulation is recommended and the range of anticoagulants has widened. In addition to treatment with conventional anticoagulant drugs, many patients nowadays have an additional bleeding defect due to the therapeutic use of daily low-dose aspirin therapy, either alone or in combination with other drugs. The aim of this report is to highlight some of the important aspects of anticoagulant therapy and its relevance to dental treatment.