Practicing Doctors' Awareness and Perception of Tooth Extraction Risks in Patients on Antiplatelet Therapy.

Area of Science:

• Medical Science
• Dental Science
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Managing patients on antiplatelet therapy undergoing dental procedures requires specific knowledge.
• Awareness of antiplatelet agents and current guidelines is essential for safe practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the awareness and perception of Saudi Arabian dental and medical practitioners regarding antiplatelet agents.
• To evaluate practitioners' knowledge of guidelines for managing patients on antiplatelet therapy before dental procedures.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study utilizing a prevalidated questionnaire administered to physicians and dentists in Jazan province.
• The questionnaire collected demographic data and assessed knowledge of antiplatelet therapy management in dental settings.

Main Results:

• A significant proportion of practitioners (over 50%) preferred to discontinue antiplatelet therapy before oral surgery.
• Awareness of the latest NHS guidelines was low, with many practitioners unaware of their existence or content.
• A majority favored consulting cardiologists before altering antiplatelet therapy for dental procedures.

Conclusions:

• Practitioner awareness and perception regarding antiplatelet therapy in dental procedures are critical for patient safety.
• There is a notable gap in knowledge concerning current guidelines and evidence-based practices for managing these patients.