Abstract

Preoperative laboratory testing is an essential yet frequently overlooked component of safe dental surgical prac tice. As the aging population increases the prevalence of systemic diseases among dental patients, structured preoperative evaluation prior to routine procedures such as tooth extraction and implant surgery has become increasingly important. Clinical cases demonstrate that blood tests play a decisive role in preoperative decision making, enabling detection of previously undiagnosed conditions including uncontrolled diabetes, renal tubu lar dysfunction, and hematologic malignancies. Although no universally accepted protocol currently exists, the necessity of routine preoperative blood testing should be carefully considered in an aging society - not only to optimize surgical outcomes, but also to ensure the safety of both patients and clinicians. Routine preoperative laboratory evaluation should be regarded as a fundamental safeguard in ambulatory oral and maxillofacial surgi cal care. (J Korean Dent Assoc 2026; 64(5): 169-173)