Clinical decision-support only. For use by licensed dental professionals. Not a substitute for professional judgment or a complete drug reference. Always verify with primary sources.
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Medication

Aspirin

Antiplatelet (COX inhibitor) / NSAID

Brand names: Bayer, Ecotrin

Oral health effects

  • Prolonged / increased bleeding

    Minor bleeding is possible and controllable with local measures. Aspirin alone did not significantly increase bleeding after extraction in a 2024 meta-analysis; dual antiplatelet therapy or non-aspirin antiplatelets carry a higher risk. Low-dose aspirin should generally NOT be stopped for routine dental procedures; bleeding is controllable locally.

    Mechanism: Irreversible platelet COX-1 inhibition impairs platelet aggregation.

    Clinical management: Use local hemostatic measures (pressure, sutures, oxidized cellulose, tranexamic acid mouthwash). For most procedures, do not interrupt therapy without physician consultation; plan early-day, atraumatic treatment.

  • Mucosal chemical burn (aspirin burn)

    Tablets held against the mucosa for toothache cause a white, sloughing chemical burn.

    Clinical management: Counsel patients never to place aspirin on the gingiva; lesions heal after removal.

Sources

  1. Risk of postoperative bleeding after dental extraction in patients on antiplatelet therapy: systematic review and meta-analysis. AlAgil J, AlDaamah Z, Khan A, et al. Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology, 2024.