Aging and Comorbidities

Studies have linked bleeding disorders to osteoporosis, thus it’s critical for dental providers to perform a thorough health history to evaluate for the use of bisphosphonates prior to treatment planning for dental extractions. Patients with bleeding disorders are also twice as likely to have hypertension, requiring dental providers to diligently monitor blood pressure during treatment procedures.⁵⁷ Other common comorbidities include obesity, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, and cardiovascular disease. According to the World Health Organization, the incidence of obesity has tripled in the last 30 years, currently affecting 13% of the world's population. In the subgroup of patients with hemophilia, obesity has increased by 20% in adults and 40% in children in the last 10 years and currently affects 43% of adults and 27% of children with hemophilia. This is of particular interest to dental providers when screening for obstructive sleep apnea, as obesity is the most documented risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea.⁵⁸