Summary

Patients with bleeding disorders are significantly underserved by the dental profession. The causes of this oral health disparity are multifactorial and range from fear experienced by the patient resulting in long lapses of accessing dental care to lack of knowledge by the dental provider on how to safely manage the oral health of individuals with bleeding disorders. As dental providers, we can and must do better, as patients with bleeding disorders desperately need and deserve our expert care. With the proper education and coordination between the patient, the patient’s hematologist/HTC, and the dental provider, dental care for patients with bleeding disorders can be safely undertaken in the dental office. Normalizing, establishing, and maintaining optimal oral health is essential for patients with bleeding disorders, and each entity has their own responsibility. The hematologist/HTC will do the work of getting the patient's factor levels stabilized, and the dental provider will accurately anticipate and communicate to the patient’s hematologist/HTC a reasonable estimation of the amount of trauma and bleeding that will occur so that an ideal treatment plan can be made.