The incidence of ST segment depression during tooth extraction was significantly higher in patients with cardiac disease than it was in patients without cardiac disease, indicating that the cardiac patients experienced myocardial ischemia. The almost equivalent incidence of ST segment depression during anesthetic administration and surgery suggests that the administration of local anesthetic is as stressful as tooth extraction for cardiac patients. Medical consultation before dental treatment and use of stress-reduction techniques may be indicated for patients with or suspected to have cardiac disease.