[General status of patients before dental treatment]

Arterial pressure (AP), heart rate, and stress index (estimated by ECG) were measured in 20 patients several minutes before dental treatment. Systolic AP was normal in 56% patients (mainly elderly), diastolic was normal in 50.5% and increased in 36% (particularly so in elderly patients). Heart rats was normal in 33% patients, the rest had bradycardia (6%) or tachycardia (61%); the latter condition was more typical of young patients and was paralleled by high systolic AP. 10.5% patients had normal stress index and in 87.5% it was increased, indicating extreme stress of the sympathoadrenal system. All 4 parameters were normal in 3.5% patients, half of whom were youths aged under 20 years. 10.5% examinees had three normal parameters, 32.5% had two normal parameters, and 37.5% had one normal parameters; 16% examinees had all parameters beyond the threshold values. The authors point to the double hazard of such a state (possible complications and decreased pain sensitivity) and emphasize the need in preventive measures to correct the general status of patients.