Blood thinners may be necessary for your overall health, but they can impact your dental implant surgery and post-treatment recovery. But don’t assume you are automatically disqualified from receiving these prosthetics. If you want dental implants, you’ll need to talk to your dentist first to make sure you understand the process and any potential concerns. In the meantime, here are a few important facts to help you get started.
Blood Thinners & Dental Implants: What’s the Concern?
If you’re living with a heart condition, you know your blood thinners are designed to prevent harmful blood clots. This is essential if you have cardiovascular disease, but when you want dental implants, it can be a potential problem.
During the procedure, a small incision is made in the gums and bone, which often causes some bleeding. For you, however, blood thinners can prolong this step, requiring your dentist to control the blood flow while placing your dental implant.
After undergoing oral surgery, blood clots need to form to ensure you heal properly. Without them, there is a greater risk of excessive bleeding and potential implant failure.
Why Is It Important to Inform Your Dentist About Your Medications?
Reviewing your medications with your dentist during your consultation is the first step in the dental implant process. Countless patients receive these prosthetics while on blood thinners. How? Because their dentist makes adjustments.
They may not only apply more pressure or place sutures to minimize bleeding, but also use materials that promote blood clotting.
At-home recovery might include a few more instructions to help keep bleeding to a minimum, but as long as you avoid rinsing vigorously, smoking, and using a straw, you should be fine. You’ll also be required to bite down on gauze to stop blood flow.
Remember never to stop taking your blood thinner medication unless you’re instructed by your doctor. If necessary, your dentist will talk to your cardiologist and make adjustments to ensure successful implant placement and recovery.
About the Author
Dr. Stephen Boyles is a Midland dentist with more than a decade of experience and is committed to providing the highest level of care. He earned his dental degree at Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry before becoming a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry. He later obtained his Mastership, a rare accomplishment among dentists. As a member of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, he places and restores dental implants in-house, no referrals required, and uses the most advanced technologies to ensure greater precision and results. Want to know if these prosthetics are right for you? Visit our website or call (432) 685–7011 to schedule an appointment.