Prescribing in dental practice

Question 1

For a patient requiring long-term therapy with warfarin sodium, the patient’s GP should be consulted and the INR assessed how long before a dental procedure?

Answer 1

72 hours - this allows sufficient time for dose modification if necessary.

Question 2

In people with an unstable INR when should the INR be assessed before a dental procedure?

Answer 2

24 hours

Question 3

Patients requiring minor dental procedures (including extractions) who have an INR below what value should continue their warfarin with no dose adjustment needed?

Answer 3

4.0