top of page

Hyperthyroid

Risks to the dental patient

Management During Treatment

Questions to Ask 

Clinical Findings 

References

Dental Management of the Medically Compromised Patient.  Little, Falace, Miller and Rhodus. 8th Edition

Medical Consultation Recommended 

Introduction

  • Associated with excess circulating thyroid hormones

  • Graves' disease (diffuse toxic goiter)

    • Most common cause of hyperthyroidism

    • Autoimmune disorder more common in woment

  • ​Untreated hyperthyroid can lead to acute life-threatening thyroid crisis or "storm"​

  • Medical treatment

    • Surgical thyroidectomy followed by life-long thyroid hormone supplementation

    • Antithyroid drugs

    • Radioactive iodine 131

  • Adverse interaction with epinephrine

  • Life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias

  • Congestive heart disease

  • Thyrotoxic crisis can be precipitated by infection or surgery

  • When were you diagnosed?

  • How often do you see your physician about your condition?

  • What signs and symptoms did you have that led to your diagnosis?

  • Do you have any of these now?

  • Do you have any disorders related to your diagnosis?

  • What medications are you taking?  Has the dosage changed recently? 

  • Did you take your medications today? Do you take your medications regularly?

  • Does dental treatment make you anxious or fearful?

  • Fatigue and weakness

  • Heat intolerance, increased appetite and weight loss

  • Tremor, nervousness, sleep disturbances

  • Excessive perspiration, fine hair, alopecia

  • Dyspnea, palpitations and tachycardia

  • Enlargement of thyroid gland

  • Exophthalmos

  • If the patient does not appear to be controlled

  • Avoid using epinephrine in poorly controlled or untreated patients

bottom of page