Prevention of oral bleeding is also desirable because it can be distressing for patients, presents challenges for
the homebound elderly and may deter future dental care. Interruption of warfarin therapy, however, may increase the risk of thromboembolism, such as stroke, which can be associated with mortality and long-term morbidity.10 Further, bleeding after dental surgery is easily seen and usually self-limiting, and most often can be managed with local measures, such as biting on gauze. Finally, recent editorials and reviews8,11–13 have suggested that dentists’ concerns about the risk of bleeding when procedures are done on patients taking anticoagulation have been overstated.