Monitoring pediatric blood pressure at dental appointments

Numerous studies have tracked blood pressure from adolescence into adulthood. It is increasingly apparent that the recent increase in obesity and resultant end-organ effects of hypertension originates in childhood. Pediatric hypertension is a significant health concern that, if left untreated, can affect a child's cardiovascular, endocrine, renal, and neurologic systems. In 2004, the National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group on High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents recommended that bloodpressure should be monitored in pediatric patients who are at least 3-years-old and that this procedure should be a part of the health care visit in all health facilities, rather than just within the medical office. The purpose of this article was to emphasize the need for following these recommendations at oral care visits and suggest a simplified pediatric blood pressure table that dental clinicians can use to identify children who need referrals to medical facilities for evaluation of blood pressure.