DAY 2 — CASE 7: A patient takes aspirin 81mg, clonazepam, and other medications and is nervous about an upcoming extraction. What is the best management?

Correct answer: A. Continue aspirin 81mg without modification

• A. For routine dental extractions, the current evidence and guidelines recommend CONTINUING aspirin 81mg (low-dose/baby aspirin). Stopping aspirin increases the risk of cardiovascular events (MI, stroke) far beyond the small increased bleeding risk of extraction. The American Heart Association and dental guidelines advise NOT stopping low-dose aspirin for routine dental procedures.
• B. Increasing the clonazepam dose arbitrarily without evaluation is inappropriate and could cause respiratory depression, especially combined with the procedural stress.
• C. Discontinuing all medications is dangerous — aspirin discontinuation risks cardiac events.
• D. Additional anxiolytics may be considered but require proper assessment; the primary answer is about aspirin management.