While you might have heard of the 'danger triangle' on your face, did you know that a visit to the dentist too could end with some extreme consequences? Fortunately, it happens only in very extreme cases.
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That being said, dental hygiene is extremely important, with studies showing that poor oral health could lead to brain decline. So do not skip out on visiting your dentist!
As reported by Livescience, here's what happened in an unusual case of one patient who ended up in the emergency room after a visit to the dentist.
Man gets brain bleeding due to teeth extraction
A man in his late 60s in Australia went for a standard teeth extraction at the dentist's. He had two teeth removed, and everything seemed fine during the process.
However, 30 minutes later, he felt very unwell. He got dizzy and started throwing up. On top on all this, his vision got very distorted. As per the report, he was seeing things as if they had been tilted sideways at a 90 degree angle.
He rushed to the emergency at the hospital. Doctors found out that his blood pressure was very high. His gait was also unsteady, and he would keep falling to the right while walking.
A CT scan was done, which showed that he had intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), with bleeding in the lower left side of his brain!
The patient had a rare gene mutation
Although ICH can be triggered by a variety of factors, it is extremely rare for it to happen due to dental extraction. Upon further enquiry, doctors discovered that the patient's brain has signs of white matter disease, where reduced blood flow damages nerve fibers that connects different parts of the brain.
Analysis of the man's DNA showed that this white matter disease was caused by a mutation in his gene called NOTCH3.
This mutation is related to a rare inherited condition called cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), in whichthe walls of blood vessels thicken, reducing the flow of blood in the brain.
Based on all these findings, the patient has since received medical treatment to manage his condition, and his health has steadily improved.
Read more:
⋙ This 8-year-old girl tragically passed away after having her tooth pulled out at dentist
⋙ 4 causes of toothache and what to do about it
⋙ Wisdom teeth: The surprising reason why humans have them
Sources used:
Livescience: 'In rare case, man's brain starts to bleed following tooth extraction at the dentist'
