When you show up at your dentist’s office for your appointment, you can probably understand why they have you fill out insurance paperwork, medical histories, and authorization forms. What you might wonder about is why the dental hygienist takes your blood pressure before anyone looks at your teeth. While you might not have thought so, your blood pressure has a lot to do with your oral health. Here’s why checking the patient’s blood pressure is a standard part of a routine dental appointment.
Why Is My Blood Pressure Taken at the Dentist’s Office?
Your blood pressure is taken at the dentist’s office for a variety of reasons. The most important one is that your blood pressure is a key part of assessing your overall health at the time of the dental appointment. Since most people see their dentist more often than their physician, this can catch symptoms of cardiovascular issues that might otherwise have been missed and allowed to progress further. It can also give your dentist clues about your anxiety levels and possible hypertension.
How Can High Blood Pressure Affect My Dental Treatment?
If your dentist finds that you have high blood pressure, they may have to adjust your treatment to accommodate it. High blood pressure can signal that the patient has anxiety, and many dentists offer sedation options to help anxious patients sit comfortably through their appointments. On the other hand, a patient in pain due to a toothache might start their appointment with high blood pressure only for it to drop after the afflicted tooth has been removed. However, in cases of extreme hypertension, the patient may have to see a primary care doctor before their dental treatment.
Taking your blood pressure provides your dentist with valuable information that allows them to treat you in a safe and effective manner. Refusing to have your blood pressure taken can put your oral and overall health at risk, and a dentist may refuse to proceed in that situation.
About the Author
Dr. Scott Mosby earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 1985 and has taken coursework through the prestigious Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. He is a member of the American Dental Association, the Texas Dental Association, and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. His office in Kingwood, TX offers general, cosmetic, restorative, and emergency dentistry. To schedule an appointment, contact the office online or dial (281) 359-6672.