Periodontitis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Periodontitis, including details on treatment, causes, gingivitis, symptoms.

A critically severe gingival bleeding following non-surgical periodontal treatment in patients medicated with anti-platelet.

Elad S, Chackartchi T, Shapira L, Findler M

Department of Oral Medicine, Hebrew University - Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel. eladhome@md.huji.ac.il

BACKGROUND: Only a few dental procedures have been reported to cause life-threatening bleeding. All of these cases followed surgical intervention. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this paper, we report a case of severe bleeding following non-surgical periodontal procedures in a patient treated with a dual anti-platelet regimen post-coronary stent insertion. RESULTS: Her medical history included ischaemic heart disease, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Haemostasis was achieved at the conclusion of the non-surgical periodontal treatment. However, several hours later, the patient arrived at the emergency room and was diagnosed with hypovolemic shock. CONCLUSION: This case should raise the clinician's awareness of bleeding complications in non-surgical procedures as well as the risk for bleeding when a dual anti-platelet regimen is administered. The importance of patient monitoring and the use of local haemostatic agents is demonstrated in these cases.

Published 20 March 2008 in J Clin Periodontol, 35(4): 342-5.
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