Management of patients on oral anticoagulants in dental practice

Abstract

The UK has an increasingly ageing population and, inevitably, the prevalence of anticoagulation among dental patients will grow. This same group of patients are retaining their natural teeth longer and will potentially require dental treatment and oral surgical procedures and so, general dental practitioners will need to be aware of the implications of anticoagulant drugs. Equally, to comply with requirements set by the General Dental Council's ‘Standards for the Dental Team’ it is imperative to ensure that, as clinicians, we put patients' interests first, and provide quality care based on current evidence. CPD/Clinical Relevance: It is important that dentists have knowledge and expertise to consult and treat medically compromised patients for patient safety and to adhere to best practice guidelines.