How Long After a Stroke Should You Wait for Dental Treatment

After a stroke, it's common to approach everything in your life a little differently. That includes when you get routine dental care. There is no single right time to wait to see the dentist after a stroke. This blog post will go over general ideas you can follow.

Why Timing Matters for Dental Care

There are a few good reasons to think about timing after a stroke. You are more likely to have another stroke in the first few weeks to first few months. Seeing your dentist during this period can be risky. Sometimes, visiting the dentist is stressful. Dental care can also raise your blood pressure. A lot of stroke patients are on medication, such as blood thinners. This medication can make bleeding worse during a dental visit.

These are all reasons to talk to your neurologist about how long to wait after a stroke.

General Guidelines for Waiting

Your neurologist could say to wait up to 6 months before getting any dental care. However, your provider may also suggest that dental visits can be okay even a few weeks or months after a stroke.

How soon you can see a dentist depends on the following:

• Type of stroke. There are two types of strokes: ischemic vs. hemorrhagic. The main thing you need to know here is that you usually wait longer with the latter type of stroke because the overall recovery time is longer.
• Severity of the stroke. The worse your stroke, the longer you will likely need to wait to safely get dental care.
• Type of dental care. You usually can see a dentist sooner for a regular cleaning versus a more serious surgery.
• Medications. Certain medications like blood thinners can mean waiting a bit longer.
• Urgent vs elective. The general rule of thumb is that urgent care for your teeth should not be put off.

How long you should wait depends on the specifics of your stroke. That's why it is so important to discuss this with your neurologist first. Doing so can make a big difference.

Reach Out to Baptist Health

If you have any questions about your recovery after a stroke, reach out to your Baptist Health neurology and stroke provider. If you don't have a provider, you can find one by visiting our provider directory.