Issue 24.12
What consequences arethere, when extensive dental work is needed, in light oftheoften compromised health of aging seniors? Of course,theanswer depends onthehealth problem facingthesenior. It can be diabetes, high blood pressure, heart conditions including prior by-pass surgery or stint placement, joint replacement or bone density treatments with bisphosphinates. Seniors worry most abouttheeffect that blood thinners will have ifthey need dental extractions. It used to be that, faced with a single or multiple extractions, a person on blood thinners would be taken offtheblood thinning medication for at least 5 days beforethesurgery and 2 to 3 days followingthesurgery. Medical studies showed thatthere were more complications for people being offtheir medication fortheapproximate week than complications from bleeding following surgery, while still takingtheir blood thinning medication. Sothestandard protocol now followed is forthepatient to go ahead withthetooth extraction and keep takingtheir medications. Now with anythingthere are no 100% rules to follow for all circumstances. If a person is not having his clotting time check periodically by his physician and or has been warned that he or she is at greater risk than normal for being on blood thinning medication when faced with surgery and should check with his physician before any scheduled surgery, than this situation might be different. Dosages of medication can be changed etc.
What I have observed is this: even when I have to remove multiple teeth as for an immediate denture,thewound sites may be a little more oozy for a few more days but I have not had to send anyone back totheir physician for clotting factortherapy. Single or multiple tooth extractions are generally tolerated without complication by people on blood thinners.
Phillip Hall is a practicing general dentist in St. George. He is also head of the St. George Craniofacial Treatment Center, and operates St. George Dental Careers, a successful dental assisting school. Board Certified Diplomate of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. Appointments for general dentistry or dentures call 656-1111. For sleep apnea appliances or TMJ problems call 634-8338.