Beta Blockers May Or May Not Be Helpful To Patients Seeking Dental Implants

Dental implants are absolutely preferred by a significant number of people facing tooth loss over the option of wearing removable dentures. Implanting bridges directly into the jaw bone allows the prosthetics to look and serve in a way indistinguishable from real teeth. No one will be aware of any differences. The one issue to contend with when undergoing dental implants is rejection. The bone in the jaw has to affix properly to the screws. Recent research shows certain drugs may increase the success potential of a dental implant procedure due to the effects on bone. Implant patients still should be careful about using any prescription drugs.

What Drug Research Reveals

The drugs that helped improve the chances of the bone fusing to the implants are nothing new or experimental. They are traditional beta blocker drugs commonly used to deal with both high blood pressure and anxiety. Failure rates on patients using beta blockers dropped down to 0.6, a figure significantly lower than those who did not take beta blockers.

Still, beta blockers are prescription drugs and they are intended to be used for a specific use. Automatically assuming that beta blockers should be used for dental implant success might not be the best assessment.

Ask about Risks with the Dentist

Research also shows that beta blockers can have an adverse reaction when mixed with epinephrine, a dental anesthetic. So patients should not automatically assume any drug is going to yield strictly positive results based on preliminary research.. Hence, it is important to discuss the risks as well as the benefits with a dentist upon learning any news, positive or negative, related to beta blockers and implants.

Discuss Options with  a Primary Care Physician

A general practitioner may have knowledge about the use of beta blockers to improve implant surgery. Request a referral from the dentist to see a general practitioner. The doctor can discuss the specific viability of beta blockers for use by a particular patient. The doctor may perform a full physical to determine whether or not beta blockers and implant surgery are appropriate for a patient.

Meet with a Cardiologist

Anyone with serious questions about beta blockers may find it helpful to meet with a cardiologist for a checkup. After having a blood pressure reading and other procedures performed, tell the cardiologist about the upcoming dental procedure and discuss any considerations being given to using beta blockers. Based on a full-heart examination, the cardiologist might end up advising against beta blockers.

Ultimately, dental implant patients do need to be sure their health is safeguarded and all procedures are performed safely. Nothing should ever substitute a qualified dentist like Davis R Troup DDS PA.

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