Why dentist need your blood pressure number?
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You sit for your dental appointment, ready and prepared for a filling or extraction, and then the dentist checks your pressure. And we think, “Why the CUFF!!! I am fit?”
Blood pressure measures the force on the arterial walls as the heart pumps blood throughout the body. Normal blood pressure is essential for life. Oxygen or nutrients could not be delivered through the vessels and into the tissues and organs without the pressure to drive the blood through the circulatory system.
Optimal blood pressure is less than 120 systolic and less than 80 diastolic
Here are a few reasons why checking your blood pressure is now part of your dental visit experience
Your blood pressure could be an issue during the dental procedure. Doctors do everything possible to make you comfortable, but undergoing dental procedures can be stressful. Blood pressure increases when stress occurs especially at the dentist. If you already have issues with hypertension, any circumstance that might increase it could lead to health problems or even an emergency. If your blood pressure is high, we may postpone the planned procedures and refer you to a physician for further examination.
Blood pressure readings are required to choose the appropriate local anesthetic for dental injections. Local anesthesia has a major role in dental work. Adrenaline in anesthesia helps to prolong the numbing effect and constricts blood vessels, which in turn can elevate blood pressure. We may need to adjust the anesthesia drugs and dosages in case you have high blood pressure.
Routine screenings can shine a spotlight on the negative effects associated with the white-coat syndrome
The condition is called “white coat” because blood pressure spikes in medical and dental settings. As humans, our bodies react differently when we are in pain or experiencing high anxiety. When this happens, we take several readings after a few minutes and in most situations, the blood pressure readings tend to get close to normal and the patient can be seen for dental treatment. If you have high blood pressure, your dentist may need to adjust your treatment plan. Once determined, your dentist can make a better-customized treatment plan for your specific needs.
It is also important that the dentist be aware of any blood pressure medications that a patient takes. Blood pressure medications may affect the numbing process during a procedure and affect how much a patient may bleed during procedures such as an extraction. The dentist could indirectly save your life just by taking your blood pressure.
By screening your blood pressure and monitoring your heart rate at every dental visit, the dentist is taking major steps to ensure your safety and comfort at the office and at home. Never pass up the blood pressure screening, and if it’s not taken, we always encourage you to ask your dental professional.