Our Location:
City of Lights Dental
Aurora Dental Arts Building
1940 West Galena Boulevard Suite 11
Aurora, IL 60506
630-892-7087
Find answers and other helpful dental topics in our digital library.
Our Blog:
Archive:
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
Tags
- celebrity smiles (61)
- braces (6)
- root canal (1)
- cosmetic dentistry (11)
- medication (1)
- oral cancer (2)
- tooth decay (7)
- oral health (15)
- oral hygiene (20)
- gap (1)
- orthodontics (5)
- fillings (1)
- dental hygiene (1)
- smile makeover (2)
- gum disease (8)
- bridge (2)
- teeth whitening (4)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- dental implants (10)
- crowns (4)
- toothpaste (1)
- bad breath (2)
- wisdom teeth (4)
- orthodontic treatment (13)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- pregnancy (1)
- dental anxiety (1)
- removable partial denture (1)
- facial pain (1)
- pediatric dentistry (12)
- age one dental visit (1)
- anchorage devices (1)
- bonding (1)
- dental emergency (1)
- dental injury (8)
- tooth staining (1)
- root canal treatment (5)
- sleep apnea (1)
- snoring (1)
- mouthguards (2)
- sedation dentistry (1)
- tooth wear (1)
- missing teeth (2)
- teeth grinding (4)
- chipped teeth (1)
- tooth erosion (1)
- geographic tongue (1)
- pediatric care (1)
- veneers (1)
- cancer (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- dental implant bridge (1)
- mouthguard (1)
- shingles (1)
- bruxism (1)
- tooth grinding (1)
- chipped tooth (2)
- laser dentistry (1)
- tmj disorders (3)
- retainers (1)
- gummy smile (1)
- extractions (1)
- bone grafting (2)
- tooth pain (1)
- bridgework (1)
- crown lengthening (1)
- retainer (2)
- dental cleanings (1)
- sealants (1)
- smoking (1)
- root planing (1)
- medicine (2)
- ulcers (1)
- canker sores (1)
- periodontal disease (1)
- root resorption (1)
- gerd (1)
- porcelain veneers (2)
- loose tooth (1)
- tooth replacement (1)
- dental cleaning (1)
- dental implant (1)
- fluoride (1)
Dental work isn’t performed in a vacuum — the state of your general health can have an impact on procedures and vice-versa. This is especially true if you’re taking certain medications like blood thinners.
Blood thinners such as Warfarin or Clopidogrel are used for a number of medical conditions as an anti-coagulant (inhibiting blood from clotting). They’re commonly part of a stroke or heart attack prevention strategy in patients with cardiovascular disease, or those with tendencies for thrombosis (blood clot formation within blood vessels) or pulmonary embolisms (blood clots within the lungs). They’re also used with patients with artificial heart valves or on a temporary basis with patients who’ve recently undergone knee replacement or similar surgical procedures.
In most cases, dental work won’t be affected by your use of a blood thinner. An issue might arise, however, if an invasive procedure has the potential to cause bleeding, like a tooth extraction or gum surgery. Because the blood doesn’t clot normally it may be difficult to stop the bleeding during such procedures.
To avoid undue complications, it’s always best to let your dentist or oral surgeon know what medications you’re taking, especially blood thinners (this includes low-dose aspirin, a common over-the-counter drug that’s often prescribed as a mild blood thinner). Depending on the procedure and your dosage, they may consult with your prescribing doctor to see if temporarily stopping the medication or reducing the dosage is an acceptable precautionary measure for your dental treatment. Your dentist may also take precautions during the procedure to help reduce bleeding such as using haemostatic agents around the wound site to help stabilize blood clotting, while carefully suturing the wound to avoid disrupting smaller blood vessels (capillaries) that easily bleed.
If your dosage has been temporarily stopped or reduced, you’ll usually be able to resume blood thinners immediately after the dental procedure. Working together, your dentist and doctor will help ensure that your health won’t be at risk and your dental procedure will occur without undue complications.
If you would like more information on dental work precautions with medications, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Oral Surgery & Blood Thinners.”