warfarin and gum grafts

[Karlynn]

I'm posting this question here, to be sure that Al sees it. Randy just posted on another forum that the doctor that did his gum grafts, preparing for his surgery, told him that if he had been on Coumadin, he would have had to go off it for a week. That raised flags for me, but I wanted to go to our Great and Powerful Wizard of Warfarin for the answer.

My daughter had a pretty large gum graft done in December and I don't recall there being much bleeding. She was packed with gauze for about 4 hours and had minor traces of blood in her saliva for about half a day.

Of course, I'm sure there's degrees of grafts as far as how deep they go for the graft, but I'm still suspicious of the doctor's comment.

 

[tobagotwo]

Oww! Gum grafts! Nasty!

I had them done, too. Along with full gum surgery, both sides, top and bottom. It wasn't really very bloody at all, especially considering what you'd expect from gum tissue. I would surely question whether someone should go off of warfarin for it.

I strongly suspect that there's nothing in dentistry that truly cries out for going off of Coumadin.

Best wishes,

 

[Randy & Robyn]

Oww! Gum grafts! Nasty!

You're not kidding! One of the worst experiences I have went through (haven't had OHS yet, obviously). An hour and a half of agony and knowing every minute what they are doing to you. My periodontist actually asked me if I wanted to watch! Actually that might have helped. The first sight of my blood and I would have been out like a light for the rest of the procedure.

As for the comment they gave me concerning going off coumadin, from my reading of this site I already had a strong feeling that was overkill and would have been very reticent to do so.

 

[terryj]

My gum grafts weren't that painful. My peridontist gave me a valium to take before my husband drove me to her office and gas while she did the procedure. They were pretty sore for about a week after. I'm not on coumadin(my husband is) but I did not bleed very much either.

 

[warrenr]

Stopping coumadin for dental surgery is a myth

Stopping coumadin for dental surgery is a myth

Here are some links concerning anticoagulation and dental surgery.

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ada/jada/2000/00000131/00000001/art00012

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ada/jada/2003/00000134/00000011/art00012

http://www.parkhurstexchange.com/qa/A.php?q=/qa/Hematology/2003-07-12.qa

http://www.med.umich.edu/cvc/prof/anticoag/dental.htm

http://www.dundee.ac.uk/tuith/Static/info/warfarin.pdf

If I were you, I would ask the dentist to show a written protocol that say's to stop coumadin.

 

[Guest]

I don't think that there is any research on what INR is safe for this. I think the dentist is just extrapolating from the urban legend. It is easier for the dentist if your blood turns to strayberry Jell-o a week before the procedure and remains in that state for a week afterwards.

5 days doesn't have any basis in science about how warfarin works.

 

[Ross]

Here are some links concerning anticoagulation and dental surgery.

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ada/jada/2000/00000131/00000001/art00012

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ada/jada/2003/00000134/00000011/art00012

http://www.parkhurstexchange.com/qa/A.php?q=/qa/Hematology/2003-07-12.qa

http://www.med.umich.edu/cvc/prof/anticoag/dental.htm

http://www.dundee.ac.uk/tuith/Static/info/warfarin.pdf

If I were you, I would ask the dentist to show a written protocol that say's to stop coumadin.

You know, It's sad that what happened had to happen, but by golly, I'm happy that it has sparked your interest in research and reachout in this respect. You keep coming up with more and more great stuff!

 

[Karlynn]

Thank you for the links Warren. I bookmarked them in my Coumadin folder.

Thank you Al. Will have to remember the strawberry Jello analogy.