Why do they measure your blood pressure at the dentists office?

It seems a little odd to me that they do, but my dentist does. Any particular reason?

Oh, funny story, so I’d been measuring my BP every day for a while because it was getting a little high, and then went to the dentist. My BP was averaging, 127/77 or so. At the dentists office it was 150/93. Think I have a little anxiety at the dentists office?

We take you’re BP just as a precaution. Some anesthetics have epinephrine in it which can raise your BP slightly. So if it’s already high, we don’t want to risk that. As for your anxiety, I’m sure that’s what it was. Even when i go to the Dr. it’s slightly elevated.

3 Responses to “Why do they measure your blood pressure at the dentists office?”

  1. We take you’re BP just as a precaution. Some anesthetics have epinephrine in it which can raise your BP slightly. So if it’s already high, we don’t want to risk that. As for your anxiety, I’m sure that’s what it was. Even when i go to the Dr. it’s slightly elevated.
    References :
    I’m a dental assistant.

  2. grandpa walleye on March 12th, 2010 at 9:18 pm

    Tiffany is right but also blood pressures are taken as a general health screening measure. I can’t tell you how many times in my 40+ year career we found blood pressures that were off the chart and referred patients to their physician. Minor elevations of bp can often be expected when people go to the doctor or dentist. This is called "white coat syndrome"
    References :
    A dentist

  3. Dr. Albert, DDS (UNITED STATES) on March 12th, 2010 at 9:58 pm

    DID YOU EVER HEAR OF WHITE COAT SYNDROME? IT’S WHEN A MEDICAL PERSON TAKES YOUR BP
    MOST OFTEN DENTISTS TAKE ONE BECAUSE OF THE EPINEPHRINE IN ANESTHETICS WHICH WILL RAISE THE BP MORE.
    References :

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