Monitoring with Anesthesia: Even a local anesthetic can affect your blood pressure. Since a numbing agent is often necessary during dental work, your dentist will monitor for fluctuations. Epinephrine in particular is known to constrict blood vessels, which can cause pressure to rise.
Taking your blood pressure regularly not only establishes your baseline pressure for future monitoring, but also helps determine if you are healthy enough to undergo your scheduled procedure. In addition, it can help your dental professional determine what type of dental anesthetic can be used, if any.
Actually, this check is now a routine procedure and standard of care for many dentists. But why are more and more top dentists doing it? Dentists who measure this important vital sign are doing so out of the utmost professional care for your health, not only during your dental visit, but for your overall well being.
Before treatment, our team will assess your blood pressure and determine if it's safe to proceed with treatment. Hypertension can put you at risk for an emergency, such as a stroke, and if your reading is too high we'll help you get rescheduled after you visit your primary care provider.
In most cases, we will reject treating patients with a blood pressure of 180/110 mm Hg or higher to eliminate any potential risks. Patients can also be ineligible for treatment if their primary health care provider sets limits on dental procedures or certain medications with side effects that affect blood pressure.
For example, breathe deeply and exhale slowly several times before your blood pressure reading. Reciting a poem or verse in your mind may help you relax also. Visualize a pleasant scene, the woods, beach or a beautiful sunset. At our office you can ask for our Bose headphones that play soothing music.
Taken to the extreme, this principle gives individuals the right to refuse life-saving treatment or to seek “Do Not Resuscitate” orders. Doctors rarely ask permission for routine matters like checking your blood pressure or listening to your lungs, though, on the grounds that they have your tacit consent.
The American Dental Association (ADA) has endorsed screening for hypertension since 1974.
Bad teeth are often due to gum disease, infection, dental decay, and inflammation. Because these are all connected, poor oral health, in general, can contribute to high blood pressure.
Surges of anxiety can cause blood pressure spikes, but these are typically temporary. Over time, however, chronic anxiety can begin to have an adverse effect on someone's baseline blood pressure. We understand your desire to manage each of these conditions without the use of medication.
Stress can cause a steep rise in blood pressure. But when stress goes away, blood pressure returns to what it was before the stress. However, short spikes in blood pressure can cause heart attacks or strokes and may also damage blood vessels, the heart and the kidneys over time.
Likewise, conditions such as high blood pressure may also present with co-morbid diseases in the mouth, such as gum disease (again, this is not always the case). In fact, high blood pressure and oral health have been linked in a multitude of studies- more recently, this one published by the American Heart Association.
High blood pressure symptoms in women can be subtle
Headaches. Fatigue. Shortness of breath. Chest discomfort.
Root Canals and High Blood Pressure: What You Should Know. Having your blood pressure checked is a routine part of any physical or visit to the doctor. In recent years, many dentists have also begun using this test to determine the safety and viability of treating patients as well.
Check your breathing
Breathing normally during the test will get you the most accurate result. If you notice yourself breathing too hard or holding your breath before you start measuring, you can try taking three long, deep breaths to relax.
Blood pressure is mostly a silent disease
Unfortunately, high blood pressure can happen without feeling any abnormal symptoms. Moderate or severe headaches, anxiety, shortness of breath, nosebleeds, palpitations, or feeling of pulsations in the neck are some signs of high blood pressure.
It is a condition that affects some athletes with raised blood pressure. Genetics, body composition, and food may cause hypertension. Being an athlete does not preclude you from these factors. However, the way blood pressure is measured has a role.
High blood pressure usually develops over time. It can happen because of unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as not getting enough regular physical activity. Certain health conditions, such as diabetes and having obesity, can also increase the risk for developing high blood pressure.
Your dental and heart health are closely linked. Bacteria from dental cavities can cause infection in the body and may trigger an inflammation of the heart lining, both of which can lead to a heart stroke or attack. This is particularly likely if you have a pre-existing problem with the heart valves.
One reason we want to help people is that your dental health can be directly linked to your heart health. Your blood pressure level is one aspect of your life that could be impacted by your dental health. Poor oral hygiene can increase your blood pressure, eventually producing hypertension.
Hypertension should not keep you from living a normal life, but you will have to live differently to stay healthy. You will need to take your medicine every day, even when you feel fine, and make sure your blood pressure is checked regularly.