Treating Patients With Von Willebrand Disease

By Jana M. Pierce, RDH, BS, JoAnn R. Gurenlian, RDH, MS, PhD

Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is a disorder that delays blood clotting.¹ It was first described in 1926 by Finnish physician Erik Adolf von Willebrand.² VWD is relevant to oral health professionals because some of its clinical signs may be readily observed in the oral mucosa, and delayed clotting can adversely affect the provision of timely and appropriate oral care.^1,3 Patients with VWD are best served when dental professionals collaborate with medical providers to aid in managing potential bleeding problems. Proper assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, implementation, evaluation, and documentation—including systemic considerations and patient communication—are critical to the successful oral management of this disease.

* References can be found in the original article via the link below.
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