Be Prepared for Anything
Medical emergencies in dental settings occur for a variety of reasons. A survey revealed that among 2,704 dentists polled over 10 years, more than 13,000 medical emergencies took place. The chief reason is an increase in the number of older adults seeking dental services. In addition, many of these patients use polypharmacy, which, in turn, can increase medical complications. Another factor stems from medical advances that are allowing patients who are medically compromised to live a higher quality of life, which includes seeking dental services. In clinical practice, these varied conditions and prescriptions must be considered when selecting dental anesthetics, as they may inhibit a patient’s ability to adapt to stressful situations. For these reasons, dental professionals are advised to work toward preventing medical emergencies.
One way to do to prevent medical emergencies is by collecting a detailed medical history for every patient and updating the history at each visit (with a new medical history document at least once every 5 years).
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Which of the following is an important part of the medical history?
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Every dental setting should have at least a basic emergency kit that contains oxygen, an automated external defibrillator (AED), albuterol (rescue inhaler), aspirin, diphenhydramine (antihistamine), and auto-injectors of epinephrine, nitroglycerin, and glucose.
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All dental offices should hold emergency preparedness drills every 5 years.
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The most common medical emergency in dentistry is syncope.
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Patients who experience a severe allergic reaction, or anaphylaxis, should be assisted with administration of an auto-injector of epinephrine.
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Dental settings should also stock a rescue inhaler in the emergency kit in the event a patient with asthma does not have a bronchodilator available.
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What should oral health professionals ask patients with diabetes before beginning treatment?
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Patients expect oral health professionals to take precautions to prevent medical emergencies and be prepared to manage situations that arise.
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