Dentist appointments- blood thinners!

[VickiMB]

Hi, after my husbands HA last month, he is now on lots of meds inc. aspirin, bisoprolol and tricagrelor. He pecked a small spot on his head recently that took ages to clot. My question is how do you get on at the dentist?? We see a hygienist that does a very thorough clean and polish that usually ends in a few bleeding gums which has never been a problem.....but might be now???

[SpiritoftheFloyd]

I'm on aspirin and tricagrelor since my heart attack last December and went to my scheduled appointment with the hygienist last March. At the time I was still suffering from chest pains after being given CPR when I went into arrest so wasn't really putting 2 and 2 together, and didn't think about the possible problems with bleeding. The result was that after the water torture and a polish I had bleeding gums till about 9pm that day (went into dentist at 10am) - not severe, but never had bleeding gums previously, so if your husband normally has bleeding gums, he may find it more problematic now!

[NorthantsSteve]

Suggest he tells his hygienist before he goes in. They might not want to do a clean. Same with dental work. Some dentists insist on stopping anti platelet therapy while others seem relaxed about it. Personally I wouldn’t risk it while on Ticagrelor. I’ve had shaving cuts that have bled for hours. Hearties have suggested various styptic remedies over the years. Might be worth investing in for general blemishes etc.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to NorthantsSteve]

This is one I recommended a few months ago:

Nix 5g Styptic Pencil

amazon.co.uk/dp/B00289GUQO/...

Currently I have a short beard after one cut too many. My dentist did a gentle clean but did not refer me to the hygienist.

[Sunnie2day in reply to MichaelJH]

My dentist did the same. Used to be I'd see the hygienist every six months but during a routine visit last week he said he will be doing the work now. He said it was owing to my heart conditions and medications (Bisoprolol+aspirin).

[Barney1969 in reply to MichaelJH]

Hi that looks good thanks for the reply👍will get some as a spot on my head took 3 days to stop bleeding 🤕

[Melbuckton in reply to NorthantsSteve]

Information I had was that if you tended to cut in wet shaving switch to electric if on anticoagulant. So I have.

[NYA2019 in reply to NorthantsSteve]

I've grown a beard as I got fed up with the shaving cuts bleeding.

I come off my anti-platelet in January so I hope the shaving nicks and other nicks to stop bleeding a little quicker.

You need to tell anyone who is giving you any kind of treatment, Physio, Chiropractor, etc. As I was told to be careful of excessive bruising.

[Speakeazi]

My husband’s a dentist. He always contacts the patient’s consultant, and that can take a bit of chasing! Tell the dentist & hygienist and go from there.

[Speakeazi in reply to Speakeazi]

If they know, the dentist can also put “ local measures “ in place which might include special dressings which can stop the bleeding more quickly than a usual one. You will be able to have treatment but going forward being cautious will be in your best interests. The hygienist may use different instruments to clean your teeth. So lots to be gained with full disclosure.

Take care.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Speakeazi]

Do you go to him? 😀

[Speakeazi in reply to MichaelJH]

I try to brush and floss my teeth so I never have any treatment. Not a great patient. Tears in my ears! When i cry lying down, the tears track into my ears 🤣

[daveofpensby]

Hi from my experience the hygienist won’t see you for at least 6 months after the event

That’s what happened with me. I had a heart attack the hygienist would not c me until 6 months after the heart attack apparently that’s the guidance

[VickiMB]

Thanks for the advice all...didn’t even consider the dangers of shaving !!! 😳

[Pitt12345]

We didn’t u TIL he cut himself shaving he bows used electric shaver !

[rockie1952]

You should give a list of your medications to your dentist and hygienist so they can decide what they are happy to do.

My dentist always gives me a medications and medical conditions form to update each time I visit

[Surreychica_1]

I had a tooth out the other day and I am on blood thinners after a stent. It was a molar. It did bleed at first and then that became a trickle and finnally after about 9 days it stopped altogether. It wasnt a lot just a few drops. I but a gauze in at night. I had all heald up now. I obviously told the dentist but he said he had done loads and no need to stop the blood thinners. I did phone the help line of the BHA and she said stopping the blood thinners anyway was not an option as it was too soon after the stent.

[motorbikemad]

hi I am on same meds he should be ok for them to clean teeth but if he as to have tooth out he may have to go to hospital for work to be done...the reason I know this is I was at dentist just yesterday and need tooth out and was told because of the meds I am on said it would be better if hospital did it.

[Beffohol]

Lots of good answers here..... similarly, my dentist wouldn't do anything that might cause bleeding (or effect my pacemaker) until she had contacted my cardiologist......now she confidently looks after my gums and teeth with care.

[Alison_L]

Hi Vicki. I was on aspirin & ticagrelor (among lots of other drugs!) until last June when the tica was stopped, and have just had another angioplasty, so am now on cloppy dog roll for 6 months. I also have an ICD. My dentist sees me herself every 3 months to do a deep clean (water torture), instead of sending me to the hygienist. I go home looking like Dracula, but the bleeding stops fairly quickly as long as I have nothing to eat or drink (except water) for several hours.

[Qualipop]

I would delay any dental treatment until he comes off the ticagrelor unless it's urgent which is a different matter. I bled and bruised terribly while on it.

[Purplemaze]

I think I would wait awhile before he goes