A patient taking dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin and clopidogrel) needs a routine dental extraction. What is the most appropriate next step regarding their antiplatelet medications?

Current evidence-based dental guidance generally recommends NOT discontinuing antiplatelet medications (including dual therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel) before routine dental procedures, including most extractions — the thrombotic risk of stopping these medications (stent thrombosis, stroke, myocardial infarction) typically outweighs the bleeding risk, which can usually be managed with local hemostatic measures (pressure, sutures, local hemostatic agents) rather than systemic medication changes.