Do dental procedures affect lung function and arterial oxygen saturation in asthmatic patients?

BackgroundAsthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the airways. Pain and anxiety triggered by dental treatment can induce the secretion of endogenous catecholamines. When the situation is combined with the use of local anesthetics with vasoconstrictors, it may increase its undesirable effects on the cardiovascular system and respiratory systems.Aim of the workTo evaluate the effects of dental procedures with and without local anesthesia on pulmonary function and arterial oxygen saturation in healthy volunteers and asthmatic patients.Patients and methodsOur study included 30 asthmatic patients, and 20 healthy volunteers. Careful history taking, clinical examination, spirometry and pulse oximetry to measure O2 saturation before and 10 min after dental procedures were obtained.ResultsPulmonary function showed a statistically significant decrease in PEF and O2 saturation in asthmatic patients and a statistically significant decrease in O2 saturation in the healthy group after dental procedures compared to pre-procedure results. Asthmatic patients receiving local anesthesia had a statistically significant decrease in PEF and O2 saturation after dental procedures compared to pre-procedure results. In the healthy group, there was a statistically significant decrease in O2 saturation after dental filling and dental prosthesis and in asthmatic patients after dental filling, extraction, prosthesis, and scaling compared to that before.ConclusionAsthmatic patients may be at a higher risk of developing oxygen desaturation after dental procedures regardless of their type with and without local anesthesia and a decrease in PEF after dental procedures with local anesthesia.