The hypertensive dental patient

Mental health screening and referral to treatment in dental practices: A scoping review

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to conduct a scoping review to examine and summarize the characteristics of research related to mental health (MH) screenings and/or referrals to treatment in dental practices.

METHODS

We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for Scoping Reviews and searched multiple databases for terms connected with dental care, MH concerns, screening, and referral. Included articles: (1) described care provided in a dental practice, (2) described a situation where the patient is experiencing the potential MH problem, (3) did not involve dental anxiety exclusively, and (4) involved some form of MH screening and/or referral to treatment. Article analysis included a summary of key study characteristics, types of evidence, study design, and central concepts and definitions.

RESULTS

The search generated 2050 records, with 26 ultimately included. Most studies involved only adults (22, 85%), but only three (12%) reported on rurality (two urban; one mixed) and only two each (8%) reported race or ethnicity. Fifteen (58%) articles were prospective and 11 (42%) were retrospective. The studies varied widely in study designs, from 11 (42%) cross-sectional methodologies to only one (4%) randomized controlled trial. Thirty-four screening tools were used to screen for symptoms of 43 MH conditions, with depression and anxiety screened for most frequently. Few articles discussed making referrals, practice workflows, or follow-up outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Included studies provide evidence of viable options for dental practitioners regarding MH screening, referring, and conducting follow-up, but lack specificity regarding these processes. Overall, more research is needed to clarify what workflows are most efficient for dental practitioners and efficacious in identifying patients with MH concerns.

Hypertension − an update for the dental (sedation) team

Hypertension is the commonest risk factor contributing to the global burden of disease. Public Health England estimates that, in England, 24% of the population are hypertensive, with 40% possibly undiagnosed. With this in mind, dentists, in particular those undertaking sedation, are in a perfect position to screen for high blood pressure and refer on for further detailed assessment. This paper outlines when a referral to the General Medical Practitioner (GP) should be considered, when sedation should be deferred and how hypertension is diagnosed and managed in primary care based on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)/British Hypertension Society (BHS) guidelines.

CPD/Clinical Relevance: The purpose of this article is to update General Dental Practitioners (GDPs), including those who practise IV Midazolam sedation, on how patients who present with suspected hypertension are managed by their GP. Consideration is given to what blood pressures are deemed safe to sedate and what blood pressures should be referred for further assessment, even if considered safe to sedate.

Dental management in patients with hypertension: challenges and solutions

Hypertension is a chronic illness affecting more than a billion people worldwide. The high prevalence of the disease among the American population is concerning and must be considered when treating dental patients. Its lack of symptoms until more serious problems occur makes the disease deadly. Dental practitioners can often be on the frontlines of prevention of hypertension by evaluating preoperative blood pressure readings, performing risk assessments, and knowing when to consider medical consultation of a hypertensive patient in a dental setting. In addition, routine follow-up appointments and patients seen on an emergent basis, who may otherwise not be seen routinely, allow the oral health provider an opportunity to diagnose and refer for any unknown disease. It is imperative to understand the risk factors that may predispose patients to hypertension and to be able to educate them about their condition. Most importantly, the oral health care provider is in a pivotal position to play an active role in the management of patients presenting with a history of hypertension because many antihypertensive agents interact with pharmacologic agents used in the dental practice. The purpose of this review is to provide strategies for managing and preventing complications when treating the patient with hypertension who presents to the dental office.

Evaluation of Anxiety Induced Cardiovascular Response in known Hypertensive Patients Undergoing Exodontia - A Prospective Study

INTRODUCTION

Anxiety towards exodontic procedures is a common occurrence in dental practice. In hypertensive patients this anxiety induced stress may have an effect on cardiovascular system which may be clinically significant.

AIM

To evaluate the cardiovascular changes in hypertensive patients that may manifest following anxiety induced stress in patients undergoing exodontic procedures under local anaesthesia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty known hypertensive patients under medication reporting to Department of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, Dayananda Sagar College of Dental Sciences Bangalore, Karnataka, India for extraction of teeth were taken up for the study. Anxiety was measured before local anaesthetic delivery using Amsterdam Pre-operative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS). Cardiovascular response data including blood pressure, heart rate, pulse rate, oxygen saturation and electrocardiographic changes were measured pre-operatively, immediately after local anaesthesia administration and Post-operatively at five, ten and fifteen minutes interval. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare continuous variables before and after the injection of local anaesthesia including heart rate, pulse rate, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure. Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyse the significance of changes in heart rate, pulse rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation over time between groups.Chi-square test was used to analyse the significance of electrocardiographic changes.

RESULTS

The results revealed that the mean anxiety score before administration of local anaesthetic was 9.91(S.D ±2.9) with a range 4-20. Severe preoperative anxiety (<12) was associated with significantly increased heart rate, pulse rate, systolic blood pressure. At the pre-injection phase the mean values were systolic blood pressure (130.72±9.2), diastolic blood pressure (81.6±7.7), heart rate (72.7±11.9) and oxygen saturation (95.2±1.9). These values were increased immediately after local anaesthetic delivery and this relation was statistically significant for all parameters except oxygen saturation. Electrocardiographic abnormalities were found before and after injection of local anaesthetic (p>0.001). One patient showed right bundle branch block pattern.

CONCLUSION

Dental anxiety impacts the effects of delivery of local anaesthesia on blood pressure, heart rate, pulse rate and electrocardiograph and is significantly associated with the increase in systolic blood pressure, heart rate, pulse rate and changes in electrocardiograph. Thus, present study supported that increased anxiety in hypertensive patients who underwent extraction is associated with cardiovascular changes.

The assessment and importance of hypertension in the dental setting

Many patients with hypertension have uncontrolled disease. The dental visit presents a unique opportunity to screen patients for undiagnosed and undertreated hypertension, which may lead to improved monitoring and treatment. Although there are no clinical studies, it is generally recommended that nonemergent procedures be avoided in patients with a blood pressure of greater than 180/110 mm Hg. Because of the high prevalence of disease and medication use for hypertension, dentists should be aware of the oral side effects of antihypertensive medications as well as the cardiovascular effects of medications commonly used during dental visits.

Periodontal management of patients with cardiovascular diseases

Periodontists are often called upon to provide periodontal therapy for patients with a variety of cardiovascular diseases. Safe and effective periodontal treatment requires a general understanding of the underlying cardiovascular diseases, their medical management, and necessary modifications to dental/periodontal therapy that may be required. In this informational paper more common cardiovascular disorders will be discussed and dental management considerations briefly described. This paper is intended for the use of periodontists and members of the dental profession.

A systematic review of cardiovascular effects of epinephrine on hypertensive dental patients

OBJECTIVE

A systematic review was conducted to identify any additional risks of adverse cardiovascular outcomes to hypertensive individuals represented by use of epinephrine-containing anesthetic solutions and epinephrine-impregnated retraction cords.

STUDY DESIGN

Two searches identified 373 local anesthetic and 33 retraction cord reports; 6 local anesthetic reports met inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

Use of epinephrine in uncontrolled hypertensive patients was associated with small, nonsignificant increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. No adverse outcomes were reported. Only one study examined effects of epinephrine on controlled hypertensive patients, in whom additional risks due to interactions with antihypertensive medication are possible. Available studies did not address effects of gingival retraction cord on hypertensive patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the increased risk for adverse events among uncontrolled hypertensive patients was found to be low and the reported occurrence of adverse events in hypertensive patients associated with the use of epinephrine in local anesthetics was minimal, the quantity and quality of the pertinent literature is problematic.