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Topic: Plavix use and dental procedures
Question:
I am a general dentist and work in a military clinic. Yesterday, a patient reported to me that he was recently placed on Plavix by his physician.
Do I need to be concerened about increased bleeding time for prophies or with oral surgery? Should the patient be taken off Plavix before dental procedures? ...Dentist from Virginia
Answer:
You are correct to question the patient about this drug. The last thing you
want to have is a problem with the patient bleeding.
My understanding is that the physicians have found more problems with taking these patients on and off the medication than trouble leaving them on the medication. So you will find they prefer to leave the patient on the drug unless absolutely necessary.
For most visits we do not take them off the medication.
One thing we have added in our office are the hard and soft tissue lasers. This is a real plus since it allows us to do a lot of things with out having to use anesthesia much of the time which means no needles being used.... And less chance for subcutaneous bleeding... The soft tissue lasers allow us to
work in a field that is much of the time bloodless so that is great!
But if we do have a concern about a procedure where we know we will be creating a bleeding opportunity we call the physician and tell them the procedures we will be performing on our shared patient and ask for their direction. That way if you do have a problem they will be available to help you get a handle on things.... Our experience is that they will have the patient come in to check their blood work and then give very specific direction about when to do the procedures that need to be done.
I have 2 patients who can not come off the medication or they will die. The lasers have been the way to go them. I call the physician each time and things have gone well
James Sanderson, DMD
Alabama Teeth In An Hour
Alabama Sedation Dentist
1633 Montgomery Highway
Birmingham, AL 35216
(205) 979-6005
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