Medical emergencies in the dental office are a serious concern, and syncopy (fainting) is by far the most common medical emergency that affects patients. Myocardial infarction (heart attack) is also common, and requires immediate care, particularly during and after local anesthesia, such as during tooth extraction and endodontics. Studies have shown that syncope is the most common medical emergency seen by dentists in the United States and Canada, with more than 60% of emergencies being syncopes, and hyperventilation being the next most common, with 7%.When it comes to treating medical emergencies in the dental office, oxygen is the most commonly used “drug”. The ideal agent for resuscitating a patient who is unconscious but still breathing is 100% oxygen.
If opioids are used as part of a sedation regimen, naloxen must also be present for emergency treatment of an involuntary overdose. To ensure that staff members are prepared to handle medical emergencies, it is important to conduct an emergency drill every month so that staff members can practice their functions, participate in cross-training, and refine the emergency plan. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) 9 of the British National Form (BNF) 9 provides guidelines on the treatment of the most common medical emergencies that may arise in the dental office. The “Medical Emergencies in Dental Practice” section of the BNF outlines what equipment and medications should be present in a dental office to ensure that patients are treated safely and effectively in case of an emergency. The revised and updated poster “Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office” serves as an aide-memoire to help dental teams manage medical emergencies.
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