Paroxysmal Vertigo

What is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)?

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is one of the most common causes of vertigo – the sudden sensation that you’re spinning or that the inside of your head is spinning.

BPPV causes brief episodes of mild to intense dizziness. It is usually triggered by specific changes in your head’s position.

The signs and symptoms of BPPV may include:
• Dizziness
• A sense that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving (vertigo)
• A loss of balance or unsteadiness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• The signs & symptoms of BPPV can come & go and commonly last less than one minute. Episodes of BPPV can disappear for some time & then recur.

Activities that bring about the signs & symptoms of BPPV can vary from person to person but are almost always brought on by a change in head position.

Some people also feel out of balance when standing / walking.

Abnormal rhythmic eye movements usually accompany the symptoms of BPPV.

How’s does it happen in relation to Dental / Oral Surgical Treatment?

BPPV can occur after wisdom teeth removal. It can also occur with bone-removal using drills, osteotomes (in effect, bone chisels) & surgical hammers (used to tap dental implants into place) which can transmit percussive forces which can dislodge the otoliths.

The dizziness is generally thought to be due to the crystal part of the otolith organ in the inner ear becoming detached from the otolith organ & drifting away. This can occur when the head is positioned in abnormal positions for a prolonged period of time.