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94 REVISTA ROMÂNÅ DE STOMATOLOGIE – VOL. LIII, NR. 2, AN 2007
The diagnosis of hypertension must be made
by a physician, usually after several abnormal
readings are documented. However, dental hygiene
students are in a unique position to assess
blood pressure and increase the patient’s
awareness of the potential risks associated with
hypertension including obesity, smoking, and a
sedentary lifestyle.
Most encounters with allied health professionals
occur when patients are ill or undergoing
diagnostic procedures, but since a systemic illness
is not the reason for seeking dental hygiene care
many patients consider themselves healthy during
their dental visits. It is common for dental hygienists
to treat <strong>medica</strong>lly compromised patients.
In contrast to other allied healthcare professionals
dental hygienists have regular contact with patients
due to frequent care intervals. For that reason,
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CONCLUSION
Based on the results of this study, the researchers
suggest clinical policy modifications including:
additional documentation for blood pressure
readings in the prehypertension stage, lowering
the systolic readings from 160 mmHg to 140
mmHg when adding hypertension alert labels, and
documenting prehypertension/hypertension on the
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Article published in THE JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY DENTAL PRACTICE, vol. 8, nr. 3, March 1, 2007 – at www.thejcdp.com. Reprinted with
permission of Publisher.