A retrospective study to identify the compliance with SDCEP guidelines of exodontia patients taking oral anticoagulant and antiplatelet medication

Introduction Exodontia treatment plans for oral anticoagulant and antiplatelet patients should consider Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP) management guidelines. No previous literature has identified SDCEP guidelines compliance. The aim of this study was to determine how Oral Surgery staff manage exodontia patients who take antithrombotic medication, and the extent to which management principles consider SDCEP guidelines. Materials and Methods All clinical records were retrospectively analysed to identify patients who matched our criteria and had an exodontia procedure undertaken at Birmingham Dental Hospital over a 3‐month period. Results Initial records ( n = 2961) of exodontia patients identified that 7.8% ( n = 231) of patients were taking oral antithrombotic medication; 163 patients on Antiplatelet medication, 42 on Novel Oral Anticoagulants (NOAC) and 24 on Warfarin. No Antiplatelet or Warfarin patient had their medication regime interrupted. All Warfarin patients had their INR performed and recorded within 72 h of the procedure. A notable difference was found between managing high and low‐risk bleeding procedures for NOAC patients, although this was not statistically significant. Local intra‐operative haemostatic measures applied were significantly different between each of the drug groups ( p < 0.001). No local haemostatic measures were recorded in 45% of Antiplatelet patients, compared to 4.8% of NOAC and 12.5% of Warfarin cases. Self‐referrals are presented more commonly on a Thursday or Friday ( p = 0.037). Conclusions Each treatment plan should be considered on an individual basis, combining clinician expertise and clinical guidelines to optimise patient care. Areas of poor compliance were identified with further research being required to comprehend how compliance with the literature alters post‐operative haemostatic complications.