Dentists can take precautions during the procedure to help manage bleeding. Because if we take them off, they’re at an increased risk for an adverse event,” he says. It’s safer to try and do the procedures and leave people on those medications. Now research tells us that it’s the other way around. However, says dentist Stephen Shuman, professor and director of the Oral Health Services for Older Adults Program at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, “We used to think that we should take patients off these medications before dental procedures because we were more worried about the potential bleeding than the possible effects on blood clotting. One approach, for example, may be to make sure the patient doesn’t take the medication for a certain number of days prior to their dental visit. Take measures. Depending on the dental procedure, consult with your prescribing doctor to see if temporarily stopping the medication or reducing the dosage is an appropriate precautionary measure. When you’re on any medication, it’s important not to take supplements without first consulting with your physician,” she adds. “Depending on how much you take, or what brand, it could actually exacerbate the bleeding aspirin can cause. “Imagine you’re on aspirin for prevention of cardiac events, then buy a gingko supplement because you want to improve your memory,” says dentist Mahnaz Fatahzadeh, professor and interim director of the Division of Oral Diagnosis at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. The fixesĬome clean. To avoid complications, let your dentist or oral surgeon know what medications you’re taking - yes, that includes low-dose aspirin (sometimes prescribed as a mild blood thinner) and herbal supplements, which can actually interfere with the metabolism of some of these drugs. Other meds that may lead to bleeding: antiplatelet meds such as clopidogrel (Plavix), which prevent platelets (or blood cells) in your bloodstream from clumping together and are primarily used to prevent the recurrence of blood clots following a heart attack or stroke. These drugs are also used by those who’ve recently undergone knee or hip replacement.

Commonly prescribed: warfarin (Coumadin), rivaroxaban (Xarelto) and apixaban (Eliquis). Because the blood doesn’t clot normally, it may be difficult to stop the flow, which can lead to severe blood loss and, in rare cases, hospitalization.Ĭommon culprits: Prescription medications that can lead to an increased risk of bleeding are anticoagulants, commonly prescribed as part of a heart attack and stroke prevention strategy for patients with heart disease, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolisms or atrial fibrillation. What they can cause: Excessive bleeding - usually from the gums or tooth sockets - can occur during or after invasive procedures, such as a tooth extraction or gum surgery. Some anticoagulants commonly prescribed for heart attack and stroke prevention

Whats in swish and swallow rinse dental