Cirrhosis (compensated / decompensated)
Cirrhosis = advanced liver fibrosis with portal hypertension and impaired liver function. Compensated (stable, no major complications) vs decompensated (ascites, variceal bleeding, encephalopathy, jaundice, SBP). Dental relevance: (1) bleeding risk is REBALANCED, not simply increased — low platelets and portal hypertension coexist with reduced natural anticoagulants, so standard tests (INR, platelet count) do NOT reliably predict procedural bleeding and no target INR exists (AASLD 2021), (2) impaired hepatic drug metabolism, (3) infection risk (especially decompensated), (4) renal vulnerability (hepatorenal physiology → NSAID risk), and (5) keep prescribing MINIMAL in severe liver disease (BNF).
The full condition entry includes
- Safe vs avoid lists: antibiotics, analgesics, local anesthetics
- Vasoconstrictor limits and treatment modifications
- Pre/intra/post-op monitoring and deferral criteria
- Emergency management, explained for study
More medical conditions in dentistry
Dentalverse is an educational resource for dental students and dentists. This page is a study reference — it is not medical advice and does not replace clinical judgment. Always follow your institution's protocols and your supervisor's guidance.