Bleeding in Office Dental Practice: Does it bother you?

More than expected bleeding complicates several office dental procedures thereby leading to increased morbidity or an aversion towards similar surgeries in the near future in a clinician’s mind. Though most research labels dental surgical procedures as minor surgeries which obviously has a minimal bleeding risk, nevertheless the chances of the such bleeding increases in patients on anticoagulant therapy. In cases known for having pre-existing diseases such as hereditary bleeding disorders viz. von Willebrand disease, Hemophilia, etc. or those with a past history of exacerbated bleeding present to the clinician a definitive need for use of local/interventional methods to control such bleeding. Through this paper, an attempt is being made to discuss in substantial detail the mode of action, uses, efficacy with side and adverse effects of currently available local hemostats (agents and drugs) for office dental surgery.