Review of postoperative bleeding risk in dental patients on antiplatelet therapy

Objective: We conducted a review of the literature to assess risk for oral bleeding complications after dental procedures in patients on antiplatelet therapy.

Study design: We conducted a search in Medline, Embase, and National Guideline Clearinghouse databases for studies involving patients on single and dual antiplatelet therapy that had invasive dental procedures or manipulations that induce oral bleeding.

Results: The literature search yielded 15 studies that met inclusion criteria. There is a trend toward increased occurrence of immediate postoperative bleeding for dual antiplatelet therapy, but there is no increase in the occurrence of intra- or late postoperative bleeding complications.

Conclusions: We found no clinically significant increased risk of postoperative bleeding complications from invasive dental procedures in patients on either single or dual antiplatelet therapy. These findings support the recommendation that there is no indication to alter or stop these drugs, and that local hemostatic measures are sufficient to control bleeding.