Why Does The Dentist Monitor My Blood Pressure?

A common question that we are asked here at Montgomery Dentistry is why we take a patient’s blood pressure for a procedure as simple as a check-up.

Isn’t it a little unnecessary to have your blood pressure monitored, when all we are going to do is clean your teeth?

Not at all.

High blood pressure affects over 50 million Americans, making it the most commonly diagnosed medical condition.  With that many people suffering from high blood pressure, we know that it is not a condition to be taken lightly.

What most people do not know is that any type of dental work, even something as non-invasive as a cleaning, can adversely affect already high blood pressure.

The dentists here at Montgomery Dentistry monitor your blood pressure because they know that an elevated blood pressure can increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke during a dental procedure.

A reading of 120 systolic over 80 diastolic is considered to be in the normal, healthy range.  However, a reading of 160 systolic over 100 diastolic is well above the level considered to be hypertension, and at this point it is unsafe for a dentist to perform any dental procedures.

And even if you are already taking medication to help manage high blood pressure or hypertension, we still want to monitor your blood pressure in order to confirm that your medication is working properly.  Of those who do take high blood pressure medication, roughly 34 percent of those still struggle with elevated levels.

We want our patients to know that we are interested in more than just the health of your teeth and gums.  We take the whole you into consideration.

Dental health is not an entity all to itself.  What affects your teeth and gums, affects your cardiovascular system, affects your respiratory system, affects your nervous system, and so on.

In fact, did you know that a large number of serious medical conditions could be detected early by a thorough examination of the mouth?  The mouth, teeth, and gums are a type of early detection system for other health issues.

So next time you visit us for a check-up or more serious procedure, feel assured that we have your best interests at heart.  We are taking every precaution necessary to ensure that you will leave happy and healthy.

We look forward to seeing you at your next check-up!

Source:  The Reading Eagle

Photo Credit: Jasleen Kaur