What is the INR?

The World Health Organization (WHO), the International Committee for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, and the International Committee for Standardization in Hematology, have strongly suggested that INR (International Normalized Ratio) values should be used to report a patient's level of coagulation. This paper discusses the use of the INR to monitor a patient's coagulation level, and reviews the recommendations on the INR levels at which dental extractions and similar oral surgical procedures may be performed safely. Studies are needed to determine whether new local hemostatic agents are sufficient for the safe management of patients at higher INR levels, thereby avoiding the need for hospitalization and heparin therapy.