Kuala Lampur, March 14 -- The fields of pharmacology and dentistry have long been intertwined. Medications prescribed for heart conditions - such as aspirin and warfarin - were once considered red flags before a dental extraction. Traditionally, doctors advised patients to stop taking aspirin for a day or two before undergoing tooth removal due to concerns about excessive bleeding.

Aspirin, an antiplatelet drug, works by preventing platelets from clumping together (aggregation) by blocking an enzyme called cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1). Platelets are essential for blood clot formation, which helps stop bleeding when an injury occurs. However, aspirin is lifesaving for patients at risk of stroke, a condition where a blood clot blocks blood sup...