Ashok Kumar, Adil Khan, Mozaffer Rahim Hingorjo, Asghar Mehdi.
Tooth Extraction and Lowdose Aspirin: Common Practice in Karachi.
J Pak Dent Assoc Jan ;20(2):115-7.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to review the current trend of dental practitioners in Karachi about stopping or not, low dose aspirin before tooth extraction. METHODOLOGY: A total of 68 Dentists were included in the study, belonging to private clinics (n = 34) and working in two of the dental college hospitals of Karachi (n = 34). Data was collected with the help of a close ended questionnaire containing two questions: Do you stop aspirin before tooth extraction? Is it due to fear of bleeding? RESULT: Out of a total of 68 dentists, 22.1% were in favour of continuing aspirin while 77.9% practiced to stop it before tooth extraction. In the individual groups, 9 (26.5%) private dental practitioners were in favour of continuing low dose aspirin and the remaining 25 (73.5%) were not in favour of that. Out of 34 practitioners working in hospitals only 6 (17.6%) continued to use aspirin during tooth extraction whereas 28 (77.9%) were in favor of discontinuation before the procedure. The reason given for stopping the drug by all those in favor of this practice was fear of perioperative bleeding. CONCLUSION: Majority of dental practitioners in Karachi still consider stopping low dose aspirin before tooth extractions, a practice that needs to be discouraged at all levels.

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