Dental Hygiene Program

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Blood Pressure:

Blood Pressure
  1. 120-139 (systolic) over 80-89 (diastolic): Pre-hypertension
  2. 140-159 (systolic) over 90-99 (diastolic): Patients with this BP reading should be issued a medical consult at the completion of all the dental hygiene services.
    1. Pressure should be taken again 5 minutes later using a manual cuff to confirm the reading. Ask the patient to keep legs uncrossed.
    2. If multiple appointments are needed to finish dental hygiene services, the patient should be scheduled again within 2 weeks. If pressure remains elevated after three consecutive appointments, consult with patient’s physician or cardiologist before proceeding.
    3. Record all multiple BP readings, Pulse and Respiration on the consult along with any medications (and dosage) the patient is taking.
    4. Patient should be advised that the consult is to be returned to the school prior to scheduling their next recall appointment.
    5. Any local anesthesia concerns should be discussed with dental hygiene faculty and /or attending DDS.
  3. 160-179 (systolic) over 100- 109(diastolic): Patients with this BP may be seen for noninvasive procedures only without a medical consult.
  4. 180 and above (systolic) over 110 and above (diastolic): Patients who are stable/asymptomatic other than this BP reading require an immediate visit to the ER or that they see their physician immediately. No treatment is initiated. The patient is given a medical consult to have completed and returned before any treatment can take place. If the patient has any symptoms such as headache, nosebleed, etc., phone Campus Police at 711, and they will have an ambulance sent to the dental school.
  5. If patient’s BP drops under 50 diastolic, this constitutes a medical emergency. Always check your equipment before activating EMS if the patient is not symptomatic.