THE IMPACT OF DENTAL TREATMENTS ON BLOOD PRESSURE VARIATIONS

Abstract

Objectives: The aim was to determine whether there are alterations in thefluctuations of systolic and diastolic blood pressure or the heart rate ofnormotensive versus hypertensive participants undergoing antihypertensivetreatment during surgical and non-surgical dental treatments, regarding whether ornot anaesthetics were used with a vasoconstrictor.Materials and methods: A prospective, observational, epidemiological study wasconducted in a sample of 200 participants older than 65 years (100 normotensiveand 100 hypertensive participants on antihypertensive treatment). Five periods forevaluation were established. Demographic information was obtained regardingwhether or not anaesthetics were used (with or without a vasoconstrictor) andwhether or not the participants underwent surgical treatment. The statisticalanalysis consisted of a doubly multivariate analysis of repeated measures formultiple dependent variables.Results: Significant differences were observed in the evolution of systolic bloodpressure, with an initial increase in participants undergoing surgical treatment andthose without a vasoconstrictor. On the other hand, systolic blood pressuredecreased with non-surgical treatments, but it remained stable with the use of avasoconstrictor. Diastolic blood pressure showed no interaction effect inparticipants undergoing surgical or non-surgical treatments; with the use of avasoconstrictor, it initially decreased, while in the absence of a vasoconstrictor, itincreased. Heart rate initially decreased in participants undergoing surgical andnon-surgical treatments and was analogous whether or not a vasoconstrictor wasused.Conclusions: During blood pressure monitoring, blood pressure variations occur,but there is no clinical repercussion in participants because once the treatment iscompleted, the initial values are recovered.Arterial hypertension is a pathology of high prevalence that tends to increase withage. The blood pressure response to surgical and non-surgical dental treatmentsand the effect of local anaesthetics is important because follow-up and bloodpressure control in older patient cohorts can improve dental and clinicalmanagement.