Question

A patient taking low-dose aspirin (75 mg) for angina is scheduled for endodontic treatmentWhat should be done regarding aspirin therapy?

• A. Stop 3–4 days before
• B. No need to stop
• C. Stop 1 hour before
• D. Stop 1 day before

Hint:

For most routine dental procedures, including extractions and endodontic therapy,
low-dose aspirin therapy should NOT be discontinued due to risk of thromboembolism.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The question pertains to the management of aspirin therapy during dental procedures, specifically endodontic treatment, in patients who are taking low-dose aspirin for angina. Below is the step-by-step reasoning to solve the question:

1. Understanding Aspirin's Role: Low-dose aspirin (75 mg) is commonly prescribed as an antiplatelet agent to prevent blood clots, thereby reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. For patients with cardiovascular conditions such as angina, maintaining antiplatelet therapy is crucial.
2. Aspirin and Dental Procedures: Dental procedures are often of concern regarding bleeding risks. However, endodontic treatments, which involve therapies like root canal treatment, generally have a low risk of bleeding compared to other oral surgeries.
3. Medical Guidelines: Current medical guidelines suggest that for most dental and endodontic procedures, it is not necessary to discontinue low-dose aspirin therapy because the risk of thrombosis or cardiovascular events from stopping aspirin may outweigh the minor risk of peri-operative bleeding.
4. Correct Answer Justification: Given the low risk of bleeding associated with endodontic treatment and the potential risk of adverse cardiovascular events from stopping aspirin, the most appropriate action is "
   No need to stop
   " aspirin therapy.
5. Eliminating Other Options:
   • Stop 3–4 days before
     : Stopping aspirin several days prior is not recommended due to the risk of cardiac events.
   • Stop 1 hour before
     : Stopping just before the procedure has no clinical relevance, as aspirin's antiplatelet effects last several days.
   • Stop 1 day before
     : This also poses a risk without reducing bleeding risk effectively.

In summary, the correct management strategy for a patient on low-dose aspirin scheduled for endodontic treatment is to continue the medication without interruption to ensure cardiovascular safety.