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Stent Put After Having Heart Attack. On Blood Thinners. Need Root Canal Treatment. What Can Be Done?
My son had a heart attack 6 weeks ago. He had a stent put in and is on blood thinners and other meds. He has had a problem with a tooth and is in need of a root canal. His Dentist told him he could not work on his mouth because of the blood thinners and heart issue. He is in constant pain and in need of the root canal to stop the pain. What can he do and is the dentist correct. My son cannot function while being in pain from the tooth constantly. What can you offer for help?
Tue, 30 Jul 2013
Dear Ma'm
Thanks for your query.
For certain type of stents it is not recommended to stop blood thinners for at
least one year after angioplasty.
I understand your concern for him but if he has a drug eluting stent, I am afraid that we will not be able to stop these drugs. His cardiologist and dentist should talk to each other and get a way out.
Sincerely
Thanks for your query.
For certain type of stents it is not recommended to stop blood thinners for at
least one year after angioplasty.
I understand your concern for him but if he has a drug eluting stent, I am afraid that we will not be able to stop these drugs. His cardiologist and dentist should talk to each other and get a way out.
Sincerely
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1 Doctor agrees with this answer
Hello,
Atleast the first 6 months after an angioplasty is very crucial.The chances for restenosis is very high.The level of blood thinners must be maintained at a certain critical level throughout.Even stoppage of the drugs for 1 to 2 days can bring the blood levels below the critical level and hence the chances of clot formation inside the newly placed stent increase manifold.(stent thrombosis).Life can be lost.Though I understand his difficulties because of the tooth ache,still I will not recommend him to stop the blood thinners for the sake of root canal because these drugs are life saving for him at this juncture.
An alternative management for tooth ache must be discussed with the dentist and a proper solution must be found.Dentist is also correct because if He does root canal now,the chances of bleeding is very high.Its a double edged sword.Its better to accept the less sharper side of the sword.
Atleast the first 6 months after an angioplasty is very crucial.The chances for restenosis is very high.The level of blood thinners must be maintained at a certain critical level throughout.Even stoppage of the drugs for 1 to 2 days can bring the blood levels below the critical level and hence the chances of clot formation inside the newly placed stent increase manifold.(stent thrombosis).Life can be lost.Though I understand his difficulties because of the tooth ache,still I will not recommend him to stop the blood thinners for the sake of root canal because these drugs are life saving for him at this juncture.
An alternative management for tooth ache must be discussed with the dentist and a proper solution must be found.Dentist is also correct because if He does root canal now,the chances of bleeding is very high.Its a double edged sword.Its better to accept the less sharper side of the sword.
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