Comparison of Topical Analgesic With Saline Rinses in Post Extraction Healing Among Hypertensive and Non-hypertensive Subjects

Hypertension is a highly prevalent cardiovascular disease, which affects over 1 billion people worldwide. It varies with age, race, education and so forth.1 The National Health Survey of Pakistan estimated that hypertension affects 18% of adults and 33% of adults are above 45 years old.2It is a common disease encountered in dental setting. Its wide spreading, terrible consequences, and life-long treatment require an attentive approach by dentists. Knowledge of hypertension is important for dentists especially for risk assessment for dental treatment. This may lead to improved monitoring and treatment.

Dental treatment in hypertensive patients necessitates special attention, because any stressful procedure may increase blood pressure and trigger acute complications such as cardiac arrest or stroke. Extractions are usually done for teeth which are not salvageable. Dentists routinely advice use of warm saline rinses to help in healing of post extraction socket. But for hypertensive patients this recommendation is potentially harmful There is no evidence based guidelines on using saline rinses for post extraction oral care among hypertensives. Moreover, advantage of orally dissolved topical analgesics in addition to orally administered analgesic is questionable.