Detection of undiagnosed and inadequately treated high blood pressure in dentistry by screening

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, hypertension is considered as an important health issue due to its unbearable complication of cardiovascular, renal, and nervous system diseases. AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: The aim was to find the prevalence and inadequately treated undiagnosed hypertension in the general population attending the Outpatient Department (OPD) of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, King George's Medical University, Lucknow. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 2500 patients were enrolled in the study within the age group of 20–60 years, attending dental clinics. For every patient, blood pressure (BP) was taken three times, and all the readings were grouped into four categories including normal, prehypertensive stage, Stage 1, and Stage 2 of hypertension. In the dental clinic, the BP assessment was done considering parameters such as sex, smoking and alcohol, the effect of local anesthesia, gutkha chewing, age group, and regular exercise. RESULTS: About 24.39% of undiagnosed hypertensive patients were found among all who attended the OPD of the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery. It was observed that the rise in BP was 16.71% and 2.35% in Stage 1 and Stage 2, respectively, after giving the local anesthesia. CONCLUSION: This study reveals that early diagnosis of undiagnosed and inadequately treated hypertension among general people notified by dentists is an important role, and this should be promoted and emphasized to restrict fatal life complications.