Objectives: This prospective, comparative, clinical study analyzed the postoperative bleeding risk of patients on anticoagulation therapy (AT) who were undergoing tooth extractions and osteotomies.
Materials and methods: Patients with the following ATs were included (test groups): (1.) platelet aggregation inhibitors (PAIs), (2.) vitamin K inhibitors, (3.) low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), and (4.) direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). Patients in the control group were not on any AT (non-AT group). Patients were subdivided into the following treatment groups: (1.) single tooth extraction, (2.) serial extraction (≥ 2 adjacent teeth), and (3.) tooth osteotomy. Pre-, intra-, and postoperative data concerning the treatment, extent of the surgery, and bleeding were recorded and statistically evaluated.
Results: There were 15 postoperative bleeding events in 838 patients (1.7%): four (0.7%) in the non-AT group (n = 603 patients) and 11 (4.7%) in the AT group (n = 235 patients). The surgical procedure had no statistically significant effect on postoperative bleeding frequencies. Patients taking vitamin K inhibitors had a significantly higher risk of postoperative bleeding compared with patients without AT (p < 0.00001). Four patients were hospitalized due to the severity of the bleeding (vitamin K inhibitor group). Postoperative bleeding events were all controlled with local hemostatic measures.
Conclusions: The postoperative bleeding risk after tooth extractions and osteotomies in patients continuing AT is low, and bleeding can be controlled with local hemostatic measures.
Clinical relevance: AT should be continued in patients undergoing tooth removal procedures under the provision that local hemostatic measures are applied.
Keywords: Anticoagulation therapy; Oral surgery; Osteotomy; Tooth extraction.