You probably don’t think twice about having your blood pressure taken whenever you see your primary care practitioner, but you might be surprised when your dental team does the same at the start of every visit. Your blood pressure doesn’t seem relevant to your pearly whites. However, that’s not necessarily the case. Here’s why many dentists consider measuring blood pressure a crucial component of routine cleanings and regular checkups.
Establishing a Baseline
Your blood pressure is the key to understanding your overall health. Since you should be visiting your dentist every six months for your regular checkups and cleanings, you will probably see them more often than your physician. As such, the best way to get a wellness check and establish a baseline for your blood pressure might be a dental visit over your annual physical. Your dentist can monitor changes and potentially save your life by detecting an underlying health issue sooner than your doctor can.
Having your blood pressure measured regularly could catch the first signs of high blood pressure (hypertension). About 30% of Americans are affected by hypertension, and it causes about 60,000 deaths per year.
Hypertension is often referred to as “the silent killer”, as it has such subtle symptoms that it can be hard for doctors to spot. As such, being able to check it more frequently is a valuable and priceless opportunity. Early discovery and intervention can prevent severe damage to the heart, kidneys, and more.
Measuring Your Anxiety Levels
Anxiety and stress can raise your blood pressure. Many people experience dental anxiety, as it can be uncomfortable to have someone working on your mouth and in your personal space without being able to see what’s going on.
Your dentist needs to be aware of your blood pressure so they can help you relax and reduce your risk of a cardiac event. By measuring your levels, they will know if they need to use a mild sedative to keep you calm during treatment.
Local Anesthesia Can Affect Your Blood Pressure
Dentists commonly use local anesthesia to ensure you’re as comfortable as possible during dental work. It’s an important part of many procedures. However, most anesthetics contain epinephrine, a substance created and distributed naturally within the body as part of the fight-or-flight response. Epinephrine helps to prolong the numbing effects of anesthesia, but it also elevates your blood pressure. This can put patients with hypertension at risk for a medical emergency.
As such, measuring your blood pressure allows your dentist to adjust the dosages of the anesthetics for your safety.
It might seem odd that your dental team takes your blood pressure at the start of every appointment, but it’s to keep you healthy and smiling for years to come!
About the Practice
At Brite Smiles, your oral health is in the capable hands of Drs. Sivan Patel and Amir Danesh Sani. Our dentists focus on education and prevention so that you can have control over the health of your smile. Brite Smiles puts patients first, offering a wide range of high-quality services at your comfort and convenience. If you want to learn more about why your dentist takes your blood pressure, contact our team through our website or by phone at (847) 297-0808.
