Question: For many years I have taken a daily aspirin for heart health. I have to have some dental surgery and I’m wondering if I should stop taking the aspirin before I have the procedure. The oral surgeon’s assistant said he did not know the answer to this question.

Dr. Hibberd's answer:
Aspirin is a common, chronically administered preventive treatment for cardiovascular disease, but is often discontinued prior to invasive dental procedures because of concern for bleeding complications. Some studies have reported that there is no indication to discontinue aspirin for persons requiring single-tooth extraction, even with 325 mg/day aspirin. Much published data indicates that there is no need to stop low-dose aspirin (baby aspirin) therapy for dental extractions and risk thromboembolic, cerebrovascular or myocardial complications.