Blue-violet light-emitting diode irradiation in combination with hemostatic gelatin sponge (Spongel) application ameliorates immediate socket bleeding in patients taking warfarin

Objective The control of bleeding after tooth extraction is a major concern in patients taking warfarin. Light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation with hemostatic gelatin sponge application was investigated. Study Design Patients who took warfarin and required tooth extraction were divided randomly into 3 groups. The first group was irradiated with blue-violet LED after tooth extraction. The second group was treated with a hemostatic gelatin sponge and LED irradiation. The third group was treated with only hemostatic gelatin sponges. Hemostasis was evaluated at 30 seconds after treatment. Results Less than 30% of the patients achieved hemostasis within 30 seconds in the hemostatic sponge group; approximately 50% of the patients in the simple LED irradiation group achieved hemostasis within 30 seconds; and 86.7% of the patients in the LED and hemostatic sponge combined group achieved hemostasis within 30 seconds, indicating that combined treatment with LED and hemostatic sponges provided a significantly higher hemostasis than in the hemostatic sponge group (P <.01). Conclusions Blue-violet LED irradiation combined with hemostatic gelatin sponge treatment yielded hemostasis of the extraction socket within 30 seconds without suture in most cases.