Dental implications of new oral anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation

As dental professionals, we should all be familiar with the most common oral anticoagulant, warfarin, and how to manage our patients that are taking it. However, several new oral anticoagulants which have recently been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) are now being prescribed for patients in the United Kingdom. These new oral anticoagulants fall into two different categories: a direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran etexilate (Pradaxa® Boehringer-Ingelheim, Bracknell, Berkshire) and activated Factor X inhibitors rivaroxaban (Xarelto® Bayer HealthCare, Newbury, Berkshire) and apixaban (Eliquis® Bristol-Myers Squibb, Uxbridge, Middlesex). These new drugs will have potential consequences for how dental practitioners manage patients requiring dental treatment, especially extractions and minor surgical procedures.