Blood Pressure Screening Ann Arbor
Dentist Ann Arbor, MI
 Having your blood pressure taken is typically associated with medical visits, not dental ones. However, knowing your blood pressure is just as important at your dental visits as it is during your physician visits. This is because your blood pressure can affect your oral health just as much as it can affect your overall health. Everwell Dentistry performs blood pressure screenings during your dental appointments to help provide you with the best possible care.
Blood Pressure Can Help Indicate Dental AnxietyFor some patients, going to the dentist can create stressful situations. However, you might say that everything is fine, even if you are feeling anxious. When you are feeling anxious or stressed your blood pressure increases. By monitoring blood pressure, and noting consistently high numbers in otherwise healthy individuals, we can uncover dental anxiety. This allows us to alter the care we provide to help you ensure that you can feel comfortable during your appointment.
Your Blood Pressure Can Cause ComplicationsWe do everything that we can to help you feel comfortable. Even so, undergoing dental procedures can cause feelings of stress or anxiety. If you currently have hypertension or high blood pressure, further increases in your blood pressure can cause significant complications. When your blood pressure becomes too high, it can cause a stroke during treatment or other issues.
For this reason, knowing your blood pressure will enable us to determine if you can undergo certain dental procedures. If it is too high, you may not be able to receive certain types of treatments. We may also recommend that you see your physician for further evaluation.
Local Anesthetics and Your Blood PressureLocal anesthetics are an important part of dentistry. They allow us to help you feel comfortable during some different dental procedures. Local anesthetics work by numbing the treatment area, so you do not feel any discomfort while we provide you with the care you need. There are several local anesthetics that contain epinephrine, which helps to ensure that the numbing of the anesthetic lasts. At the same time, epinephrine also affects your blood vessels, causing them to constrict. When this happens, your blood pressure increases.
If you have hypertension, this means we may need to adjust your local anesthetic to avoid increasing your blood pressure further. Other forms of sedation can also affect your blood pressure as well. For this reason, your blood pressure is monitored closely during treatments. Doing so helps to avoid any potential complications that might occur.
Screening Blood Pressure Can Detect Health IssuesThe earliest symptoms of hypertension are often subtle. You might never know that you have a problem. Blood pressure screenings are often the first sign that something is wrong. This makes having your blood pressure checked regularly incredibly important. You visit the office for cleanings and exams at least twice a year. This provides you with two additional opportunities to detect hypertension. By detecting hypertension early, we can help you to take the steps you need to get it under control and prevent more serious complications from developing.
Regular blood pressure screenings at your dental appointments allow us to provide you with the quality care you deserve. For more information, contact Everwell Dentistry today at (734) 973-0000. |
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