Dental extractions can cause significant risk of bleeding in hemophilia patients being treated with factor replacements. However, mouth splints significantly decreased the risk of postextraction bleeding in these patients, according to Takahiro Yagyuu, DDS, of the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan, and colleagues.
The researchers performed a retrospective analysis of the medical records of hemophilia patients who underwent tooth extraction(s) between April 2006 and April 2019 at a single university hospital in Japan.
They conducted logistic regression analyses to identify risk/protective factors for postextraction bleeding in procedures involving patients receiving factor replacement therapy. Postextraction bleeding was defined as bleeding that could not be stopped by biting down on gauze and required medical treatment between 30 minutes and 14 days after the extraction, according to the report published online on in the British Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery.
A total of 130 extractions in 48 patients with hemophilia A and 21 extractions in 7 patients with hemophilia B were performed. Postextraction bleeding events were observed in 9 patients (16.3%) and 12 extractions (7.9%). On average, postextraction bleeding occurred 6 days after intervention and on the fifth postoperative day for extractions, according to the researchers.
Benefits of splints
The study found that the use of mouth splints significantly decreased the risk of postextraction bleeding (odds ratio, 0.13; P = .01) in hemophilia patients being treated with clotting factor replacements.
However, other factors in the study cohort, such as age, severity of hemophilia, duration of factor replacement therapy, gingival incision, bone removal, tooth separation, use of absorbable hemostats, wound closure, and the prescription of NSAIDs, were not significantly associated with postextraction bleeding, the researchers added.
“The use of mouth splints significantly decreased the risk of post-extraction bleeding. [In the future], we will conduct a prospective study to investigate the optimal type of splint and splint-wearing period to improve hemostatic management of tooth extraction in hemophilia patients,” the researchers concluded.
One author reported grants and personal fees from Bayer, Bioverativ, Chugai Pharmaceutical, Novo Nordisk, and Shire. A second author teaches a course endowed by Shire Japan. The other authors reported they had no conflicts.
SOURCE: Yagyuu T et al. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2020 Oct 11. doi: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2020.08.121.