DENTAL MANAGEMENT OF THE HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

(1) TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSION IS NOT DENTIST'S RESPONSIBILITY.
(2) IF THE DENTIST HAPPENS TO DIAGNOSE THE CONDITION, THE PATIENT MAY BE REFERRED TO THE PHYSICIAN FOR TREATMENT.
(3) DENTIST SHOULD MEASURE BLOOD PREASURE OF ALL ADULT PATIENTS. THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IF PATIENTS ARE KNOWN TO BE HYPERTENSIVE.
(4) STRESS OF DENTAL TREATMENT MAY ARTIFICIALLY RAISE THE BLOOD PRESURE.
(5) CHANGES IN BLOOD PRESSURE CAN ALSO BE SEEN BEFORE THE ADMINISTRATION OF LOCAL ANAESTHESIA , DENTAL EXTRACTION, RESTORATIVE TREATMENT AND SO ON. VARIATION IN BLOOD PRESSURE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS IS NORMAL BUT IN THOSE WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE OR HYPERTENSION, VARIATIONS IN BLOOD PRESSURE MAY BE EXAGGERATED.
(6) MINIMISING ANXIETY AND ELIMINATION OF PAIN IS IMPORTANT IN THESE PATIENTS.
(7)DENTISTS SHOULD ASSESS THE SEVERITY OF THE PATIENT'S HYPERTENSION BY TAKING PROPER MEDICAL HISTORY, PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND CONSULTING PATIENT'S PHYSICIAN.
(8)DENTIST SHOULD ASK THE PATIENT ABOUT HIS DRUG REGIME.
(9)KNOWLEDGE OF THE DRUGS PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS THAT MAY COMPLICATE DENTAL TREATMENT.