Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 7/1/2008

Question
my grandmother had open heart surgery 3mos ago. She fracture an anterior central superior tooth #9(#2.1)in half that had a root canal treatment.  Her treatment plan is: redo-root canal, post/core & crown tooth.  The dentist took her hbp reading: 170/68mmg.  Will 3% lidocaine/or any other anestesia of 3% affect her or even recommended in her condition.

Answer
There is no problem with the local anesthetic (although if they use epinephrine in the local, that could potentially cause increase heart rate or blood pressure). Other than that, I don't see any problem.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston