Some dental offices have a policy of taking your blood pressure before starting your appointment. Although high blood pressure won't directly affect the condition of your teeth, it can make some treatments more difficult. But Can High Blood Pressure Affect Your Dental Treatment?
Basic dental techniques
There are many dental procedures where your blood pressure won't even be a minor concern. These are the fundamental techniques, such as a general inspection, scaling, and polishing of the teeth. Even straightforward restoration tasks like filling a cavity won't cause any issues. Your blood pressure can become an issue when you require a more invasive procedure that calls for anaesthesia. How come, though?
Anaesthetic and Beta Blocker Interaction
Although very effective, epinephrine tightens blood vessels, which may lead to an increase in blood pressure. A negative reaction is even more likely if you are taking beta-blockers as prescribed for your blood pressure. Although such a reaction is uncommon, in severe cases it can cause a cardiac episode or even a cerebral haemorrhage. As you can see, it's imperative that you inform your dentist exactly which blood pressure medications you're taking.
Issues with anaesthesia
Theoretically, any anaesthetic could have a negative impact on blood pressure that is already unhealthily high. Even a local anaesthetic, which is frequently used in dentistry, fits this description. Your dentist must proceed with the utmost caution when administering an anaesthetic to a patient with excessively high blood pressure. This is especially true when epinephrine is the anesthetic's main active component.
Working Around the Issue at Hand
Your dentist will need to find a solution if your blood pressure makes receiving dental care difficult. It may simply be the case that, if at all possible, an alternative anaesthetic will be used. It's also possible that your dentist will postpone treatment and send you back to the doctor so that your blood pressure can be brought down to a manageable level, which will allow for the safe continuation of your dental work.
Although they may have already taken your blood pressure once you arrive at their office, it's important to let your dentist know that you have high blood pressure. Although having high blood pressure won't stop you from getting dental care, in some cases, a delay may be necessary.
