Anticoagulants and dentistry
Anti-platelet drug mechanisms

Platelets

The principal function of platelets is to prevent bleeding. They stick to damaged blood vessel surfaces, and then stick to each other. Along with a protein called Fibrin which creates a mat, they form a clot.

Anti-platelet drug mechanisms

Aspirin

COX-1 (cyclo-oxygenase-1) is an enzyme is necessary to generate a potent platelet activator called thromboxane A2, which stimulates activation of new platelets as well as increasing platelet aggregation.

Aspirin works as an antiplatelet agent by irreversibly blocking COX-1 inside the platelets. This results in reduced platelet aggregation, and prevents new platelets being activated.

Clopidogrel

Clopidogrel belongs to a class of drugs which are called adenosine diphosphate (ADP) antagonists. ADP helps the platelet aggregation process by interacting with two receptors on platelets (called P2Y₁ and P2Y₁₂). Clopidogrel blocks these receptors, preventing platelet aggregation.