Dental implant surgery in patients in treatment by dabigatran

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of bleeding complications after dental implant placement in patients in treatment by the oral anticoagulant dabigatran following a specific protocol. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-one patients were divided into two groups: 29 had been taking dabigatran for over 6 months (150 mg orally every 12 h) before implant surgery (dabigatran group) and a control group consisting of 42 healthy subjects. Patients were treated in an outpatient setting. All subjects received dental implants in different positions, dabigatran group patients 12 h after the last dose of dabigatran. Nonabsorbable sutures were used and patients were given gauzes impregnated with tranexamic acid 5% to bite on for 30-60 min. Dabigatran patients resumed medication 8 h after the procedure, resuming usual dosage (every 12 h) the day after surgery. RESULTS: Two dabigatran patients and two control patients presented slight bleeding the day after surgery. Bleeding was managed with gauzes impregnated with tranexamic acid. No statistically significant differences (P = 0.542) were found in relation to bleeding episodes between the groups, with a relative risk of 0.675 based on the pooled groups and a 95% confidence interval of 0.090-5.088. CONCLUSIONS: Dental implant surgery in patients taking dabigatran can be performed safely providing 12 h have passed since the last dose and local hemostatic measures are applied. Normal dosage can be resumed 8 h after implant surgery.