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. 2019 Aug;23(8):3183-3192.
doi: 10.1007/s00784-018-2739-9. Epub 2018 Nov 3.

Should we fear direct oral anticoagulants more than vitamin K antagonists in simple single tooth extraction? A prospective comparative study

Federico Berton  1 , Fulvia Costantinides  2 , Roberto Rizzo  2 , Anna Franco  2 , Jenny Contarin  2 , Claudio Stacchi  2 , Michele Maglione  2 , Erika Visintini  2 , Andrea Di Lenarda  3 , Roberto Di Lenarda  2
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Free article

Should we fear direct oral anticoagulants more than vitamin K antagonists in simple single tooth extraction? A prospective comparative study

Federico Berton et al. Clin Oral Investig. 2019 Aug.
Free article

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this prospective comparative clinical study was to evaluate the effect of oral anticoagulants on peri- and post-operative bleeding during simple single tooth extractions, comparing patients in treatment with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) and patients assuming direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs).

Materials and methods: Patients under oral anticoagulant therapy needing dental extraction were eligible for entering the study; patients were enrolled following inclusion and exclusion criteria and divided into VKAs and DOAC group according to the anticoagulation therapy. Included patients underwent a simple single dental extraction with elevators and forceps with a maximum surgical time of 15 minutes, without anticoagulation therapy discontinuation. All participants were assessed pre-operatively, during surgery, 30 min minutes and 7 days after surgery. Biological complications were registered and post-extraction bleeding was clinically defined according to Iwabuchi classification. Parametric and non-parametric tests were used to evaluate the variables between the groups.

Results: Sixty-five patients per group were enrolled and 130 teeth were extracted. The two groups were comparable for pre-, peri-, and post-operative variables. Only 1 patient of DOAC group and 2 patients for VKA group needed medical evaluation for post-extractive bleeding. No statistically significant difference resulted in post-operative bleeding events between the groups (p = 0.425).

Conclusions: DOAC and VKA patients showed the same incidence of bleeding complications after simple single tooth extraction. Bleeding events were not statistically significant and not clinically relevant.

Clinical relevance: Patients assuming DOACs can be treated similarly to patients in VKAs therapy with INR index between 2 and 3. Non-ceasing of DOAC therapy seems to be appropriate for simple single dental extractions.

Keywords: Bleeding risk; DOAC; Direct oral anticoagulants; NOAC; Novel oral anticoagulants; Simple single tooth extraction.

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