Kirkland Dentists, Seattle Washington

Kirkland Dentists

The older population of patients is apt to have a greater amount of general health problems and may require the care of Kirkland Dentists or may seek the input of the patient’s family doctor or medical specialist.

The safe and responsible treatment of a dental patient often requires the involvement of the family doctor or medical specialist. Recent trends show that dental patients are keeping their teeth and seeking dental care until much later in life. This older population of patients is apt to have a greater amount of general health problems and may require the dentist to seek the input of the patient’s family doctor or medical specialist.

It is estimated that nearly 75 million Americans, many who are seniors, suffer from high blood pressure, or hypertension. Hypertension, often referred to as the "silent killer", is defined by repeatedly having a blood pressure readings greater than 140/90. Hypertension is dangerous because it increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney, and eye damage. Another common malady is diabetes, a disease that affects the way our body uses food. There are two types. Type 1 is referred to as insulin dependent or immune-mediated diabetes, and is caused by the inability of the pancreas to produce insulin. Insulin is necessary for the vast number of blood cells in our body to use glucose, a sugar that helps sustain life. Type 2 is often referred to as non- insulin dependent or adult onset diabetes and is the much more common form, occurring in roughly 90% of the cases. With type 2 diabetes, the body does not make enough insulin or cannot properly use it. The complications of untreated or poorly controlled diabetes include kidney failure, gangrene, blindness, or stroke. Dental patients with these disorders, complications from them, or other serious health problems can present challenges for safe dental care. Seattle dentists should consult these patient’s family doctors or medical specialists for advice prior to treating these types of patients.

For instance, patients with hypertension may be taking medications that can interact with certain dental anesthetics. Poorly controlled “brittle” diabetics may have difficulty fighting off a dental infection like an abscessed tooth, and strong antibiotics may be required. In some cases, dental care may need to be modified or at times completely changed to treat a patient with a serious medical condition. The family doctor or medical specialist is a vital resource to the Kirkland dentists, and should be consulted to help treat these patients as safely as possible.