Dentist Do Not Extract Tooth if your Blood Pressure is Already High

Many people think dentists are only interested in teeth and gums. The idea of a dentist asking about blood pressure and medical history may surprise some.

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"I was inside the office sitting and before they numbed me up they took my blood pressure," she recalled. "I was shocked that it was high. Too high."

She felt fine, but accepted her periodontist's recommendation that she get her blood pressure resolved before having the tooth pulled.



But the state of your mouth can say a lot about your general health. Oral problems like plaque can affect the rest of your body. Medications like diuretics and antihistamines that dry out your mouth can lead to dental problems. Diseases like diabetes that lower resistance to infection can affect dental health.

What's the big deal with blood pressure?

For starters, it's known as the "silent killer" because lots of people don't even know they have it. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates about 30 percent of us have high blood pressure, yet fewer than half have it under control with diet, exercise and medications.

Let's say, like Griffin, you're having a tooth pulled. The local anesthetic used to block pain and control bleeding often contains epinephrine, a drug that may also cause a rapid rise in heart rate. If your blood pressure is already high, epinephrine might put you at risk for a heart attack.

Dr. Terry Bruckenheimer, president of the Florida Dental Association, says questions about medications should be routine at all dental visits. "The bigger and the longer the procedure, the more likely you are to have your blood pressure taken, too," said Bruckheimer, who practices general dentistry.



And your dentist wants to know about over-the-counter medications as much as the prescription drugs you take.

If you're having multiple teeth pulled or implants placed, your dentist needs to know if you are on blood thinners, such as Coumadin, or even an over-the-counter pain reliever, since they, too, can lead to excessive bleeding during and after the procedure.