Tooth extraction is often a “dangerous experience” for the elderly who are already sick.
Observations have shown that the changes in the human body during tooth extraction are as follows.
1. Increase in blood pressure
During tooth extraction, many elderly people’s blood pressure rises significantly, with some having a systolic pressure rise of 8 kPa (60 mmHg) and a diastolic pressure rise of 4 kPa (30 mmHg). If the original blood pressure is high, such a change can easily cause hypertensive encephalopathy or stroke.
2. Accelerated heart rate
The heart rate of elderly people who have teeth extracted can often be accelerated, feeling palpitations and panic, especially those who are originally afraid of surgery, as soon as the anesthetic is administered and the apparatus is rattled, they will be panicked, which often affects the operation of doctors.
3.Heart arrhythmia
Almost 1/3 of people have abnormal changes in heart rhythm. Although sinus tachycardia and sinus bradycardia are common and do not affect the operation, there are also premature beats, atrial fibrillation or the original atrial fibrillation increased, the patient has obvious conscious symptoms, so that the doctor can no longer continue. Some patients with arrhythmia even fail to return to normal some time after extraction.
4. Abnormal electrocardiogram
Some people found under cardiac monitoring that tooth extraction in the elderly could also induce myocardial ischemic ECG changes, and even 5 minutes after finishing tooth extraction, the ECG still could not return to normal.
5. Angina attack
Some elderly people have angina pectoris during tooth extraction, which manifests as fear, suffocation, severe pain in the precordial area, pale face, cold sweat, and even dizziness and blurred consciousness, resulting in the inability to continue tooth extraction and having to be resuscitated immediately.
For tooth extraction in the elderly, the following countermeasures should be taken to avoid danger.
1. Mental relaxation
Mental tension is a factor that induces potential danger, and tension can make people’s blood pressure rise, cardiac arrhythmia and myocardial ischemia. Therefore, the patient should not be too nervous before tooth extraction, and the patient’s family can also do some ideological work to dispel the patient’s worries and relax his spirit. Patients should have sufficient rest before tooth extraction, and can also take appropriate sedatives such as Valium, Luminal and other drugs such as Tretinoin to help eliminate mental tension.
2.Adequate anesthesia
Pain is a risk factor that makes tooth extraction dangerous and can cause sudden rise of blood pressure in 42% of people and cardiac arrhythmia in 55% of people. At present, lidocaine is considered to be effective for local anesthesia, and primary hospitals also apply lidocaine instead of procaine for anesthesia. After sufficient anesthesia, it is completely possible to achieve painless tooth extraction, and the pain-relieving effect is maintained for a longer period of time, which is safer.
3.Shorten the extraction time
Tooth extraction time more than 5 minutes will mostly cause the patient’s heart rate to accelerate, blood pressure to rise, cardiac arrhythmia and insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle. Therefore, elderly people who want to extract teeth should try to ask a skilled doctor to operate in order to shorten the extraction time. If there are more teeth to be extracted, they can be extracted in several times, and the patient should not ask the doctor to finish the extraction at once in order to save trouble. If the elderly feel uncomfortable during the extraction process, they should tell the doctor in time so that preventive and curative measures can be taken.
4. Cardiac monitoring
The patient should have a comprehensive examination before the operation to have an accurate assessment of the heart function. Patients with poor heart function or heart disease should apply to the doctor for cardiac monitoring to avoid accidents. Patients and doctors should not take any chances and avoid cardiac function tests in order to save trouble.
5. Elderly people should be more cautious
Elderly people over 80 years old are less tolerant to tooth extraction and have more chances of danger, so they should weigh the advantages and disadvantages of tooth extraction, and if necessary, they should consult their doctors in detail and make a decision after full consideration. If tooth extraction is necessary, a family member should accompany you to the hospital to avoid accidents after extraction or on the way back.