Dental extractions and risk of bleeding in patients taking single and dual antiplatelet treatment

A total of 110 teeth were extracted on 59 occasions in the dual drug group, and 232 teeth on 128 occasions in the single drug group. Bleeding was recorded after extraction in only one patient on dual aspirin-clopidogrel treatment, which was mild and easily controlled by local haemostasis. The incidence of postoperative bleeding did not differ significantly among the three groups (χ2 = 4.3, p = 0.11). However, the wound was sutured to achieve effective initial local haemostasis in 4/59 (6.8%) and 2/128 (1.6%) occasions of tooth extractions in the dual and single drug groups, respectively, and none in the control group (χ2 = 10.02, p = 0.007). Patients taking single or dual antiplatelet drugs may have teeth extracted safely without interruption of treatment using only local haemostatic measures.