This is general patient information. It is not medical advice about your own medicines. Never stop or change a prescribed medicine to have dental treatment unless the doctor who prescribed it tells you to.

Quick Answer

Before any dental treatment, and especially before surgery such as extractions, implants or bone grafts, tell your dentist about every medicine you take and every significant health condition you have. The items that most often change a dental plan are blood-thinning medicines, medicines that affect bone (such as bisphosphonates and denosumab, used for osteoporosis and some cancers), diabetes, heart conditions, immune-suppressing treatment, radiotherapy to the head and neck, pregnancy, and allergies. Most of these do not stop treatment. They change how it is planned and timed, and sometimes mean your dentist needs to speak to your doctor first. Bring a written list of medicine names and doses.

Key Takeaways

  • Tell your dentist about prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines and supplements.
  • Never stop a blood thinner or any other prescribed medicine on your own to have dental work done.
  • Bone medicines matter most before extractions and implants, even if you stopped taking them some time ago.
  • Well-controlled conditions usually allow treatment. Poorly controlled ones may need to be stabilised first.
  • If you are travelling for treatment, send your list before you book flights, not on the day.

The Checklist

Tell your dentist if youWhy it matters
Take a blood thinner (anticoagulant or antiplatelet)Bleeding after extractions or surgery needs planning. Published guidance generally advises that many patients can continue their medicine with local measures to control bleeding, but this is decided case by case
Take or have taken a bone medicine (bisphosphonate, denosumab or similar)These are linked to a rare but serious condition, medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw, after extractions or surgery. Risk depends on the medicine, dose, duration and reason for taking it
Have diabetesHealing and infection risk are affected by how well blood sugar is controlled. Gum disease and diabetes also influence each other
Have a heart condition, a replaced heart valve or a history of endocarditisSome conditions affect which precautions are taken. Your dentist may consult your cardiologist
Take medicines that suppress the immune system, or steroidsHealing and infection risk may change
Have had radiotherapy to the head or neckExtractions and surgery in irradiated bone carry particular risks and need specialist planning
Are pregnant or may beTiming of treatment, imaging and medicines are adjusted. See dental treatment during pregnancy
Have allergies, including to latex, antibiotics, painkillers or local anaestheticTo avoid giving you something you react to
Have a bleeding disorder or liver diseaseBleeding and healing may be affected
Smoke or vapeAffects healing and implant outcomes. See smoking and dental implants
Have had previous complications with anaesthetic or dental treatmentHelps plan to avoid a repeat

This is not a complete list. If you are unsure whether something is relevant, mention it.

Blood Thinners: Do Not Stop Them Yourself

People taking warfarin, newer anticoagulants such as apixaban or rivaroxaban, or antiplatelet medicines such as clopidogrel often worry that they will be told to stop. Stopping can raise the risk of a stroke or clot, which is why guidance such as that from the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme focuses on managing bleeding during dental treatment while the patient continues their medicine in many cases. What applies to you depends on the medicine, the reason you take it and the procedure planned. Your dentist may need recent blood test results if you take warfarin, or may coordinate timing with your doctor.

Bone Medicines and the Jaw

Bisphosphonates (such as alendronic acid) and denosumab are used to treat osteoporosis and to protect bone in some cancers. In a small number of people they are associated with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw, where an area of jaw bone fails to heal, typically after an extraction or other surgery. The risk is generally much lower in people taking tablets for osteoporosis than in people receiving higher-dose treatment for cancer, but it is not zero, and some medicines remain in the bone long after they are stopped. Tell your dentist if you have ever taken one, and for how long.

Diabetes

Well-controlled diabetes is not usually a barrier to dental treatment, including implants in many cases. Poorly controlled blood sugar is associated with slower healing, higher infection risk and more gum disease. Your dentist may ask about your recent HbA1c result and may suggest improving control before elective surgery.

How to Prepare

  1. Write down every medicine, including the name, dose and how often you take it.
  2. Add supplements and herbal products.
  3. List your diagnoses and any operations or hospital stays.
  4. Note any allergies and what happened.
  5. If you have a specialist, such as a cardiologist or oncologist, note their name and contact details.
  6. Bring a recent letter from your doctor if you have a complex condition.

If You Are Travelling for Treatment

Send your medical history and medicine list with your first message, along with photographs and any X-rays. Some cases need information from your own doctor before a plan can be confirmed, and that is far easier to arrange before you book flights. The clinic gives preliminary information remotely, and the final treatment plan is confirmed after an in-person examination. See what the clinic needs from you and am I a candidate for dental implants.

Conclusion

Your medical history is part of your treatment plan. Telling your dentist everything, in writing, protects you more than any piece of equipment, and it rarely means you cannot be treated. It means you are treated in the way that is safe for you.

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References