Background: It is common to note dental surgeons discontinue oral anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs for the purpose of dental surgical procedures having the fear of excessive bleeding. Multiple review of literatures and studies have proven no risk of bleeding complications in such patients. Purpose of our study was to evaluate amount of bleeding in patients under oral anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy when compared to healthy controls who are undergoing variety of oral surgical procedures.

Materials and methods: Patients taking oral anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs who’s INR (International Normalized Ratio) less than 3.0 are divided in two groups of less than 20 minutes procedures and less than 40 minutes procedures with healthy controls in same manner. Sterile weighed gauze packs of 20gms and 40gms were used respectively in these groups and weighed postoperatively for weight difference.

Results: No statistical difference in bleeding noted in patients under medication to healthy controls in both the groups.

Conclusion: Interruptions in oral anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs must be avoided when patients INR withing therapeutic range to avoid embolic consequences.

Keywords: Anticoagulants; Antiplatelets; Dental Surgical Procedures; INR; Bleeding; Complications.