Lack of evidence for increased postoperative bleeding risk for dental osteotomy with continued aspirin therapy

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2015 Jan;119(1):17-9. doi: 10.1016/j.oooo.2014.08.016. Epub 2014 Sep 16.

Abstract

Objective: Dental osteotomy, the removal of an impacted, ankylosed, or severely destroyed tooth requiring an osteotomy, is more invasive than other minor dental procedures and therefore also has a higher bleeding risk. A considerable number of patients under antiplatelet therapy interrupt their therapy perioperatively, which, however, increases the risk of thromboembolism.

Study design: This retrospective study assessed postoperative bleeding incidence for a total of 297 dental osteotomies with continued aspirin therapy, compared with that of 179 similar procedures on patients who were not on any anticoagulation or anti-platelet therapy. All procedures were carried out on an outpatient basis.

Results: Postoperative bleeding event was rare in both groups, 5 (1.7%) and 2 (1.1%), respectively, and the difference was not significant (P = .7).

Conclusions: Continued aspirin therapy in patients undergoing dental osteotomies has no effect on the incidence of postoperative bleeding and should not be interrupted.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anticoagulants / adverse effects*
  • Aspirin / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Osteotomy*
  • Postoperative Hemorrhage / chemically induced*
  • Postoperative Hemorrhage / epidemiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tooth Diseases / surgery*

Substances

  • Anticoagulants
  • Aspirin