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Medical Emergencies

Patient Version Dentist Version

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To find information about the topic listed on this page, please visit the MouthHealthy.org page about Medical Emergencies.

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Medical Emergency Action Plan for the Dental Office
Recognizing, Responding and Managing

Introduction

A medical emergency in the dental office may be an unexpected event that can include accidental or willful bodily injury, central nervous system stimulation and depression, respiratory and circulatory disturbances, as well as allergic reactions.

Dentists, through their academic, clinical and continuing education, should be familiar with the prevention, diagnosis, and management of common emergencies. In addition, they should provide appropriate training to their staff so that each person knows what to do and can act promptly. Since these skills are not used every day, regular review is necessary: at least annually but preferably more often. Conducting mock emergencies may help office staff to be more confident with their roles when a real emergency occurs. As a result, dentists and their staff should be prepared to recognize, respond and effectively manage a medical emergency.

The components of a sound medical emergency plan for the dental office should include:

Medical emergency prevention
Development of an action plan
Recognizing a patient’s distress and management of medical emergencies
Emergency drugs and equipment

Some states may require that dentists have emergency drugs and equipment. For example, in 2010 Illinois became the first state to enact a law requiring dental offices that administer deep sedation to not only have an automated external defibrillator (AED) available, but also a written medical emergency plan. This new law does not apply to practices that use local anesthetics for routine dental care. However, many states require dentists, whether they administer general anesthesia or deep sedation, to have an AED available. For more information about the safety requirements in your state, consult with your state dental association and/or your state’s board of dental practice.

In the following sections, you will find information on recognizing, responding and effectively managing medical emergencies, as well as preventive preparation. New information and resources will be added to this area as they become available.

The Journal of the American Dental Association

Knowing Your Patients (May 2010)
Preparing Dental Office Staff Members for Emergencies: Developing a Basic Action Plan (May 2010)
Preparing for Medical Emergencies: The Essential Drugs and Equipment for the Dental Office (May 2010)
Basic Management of Medical Emergencies: Recognizing a Patient’s Distress (May 2010)

ADA Resources

ADA CE Online

Recognition and Management of Complications during Minimal and Moderate Sedation - Part One of a Two Part Program. In this course particular emphasis is placed on patient monitoring and airway management. (Basic life support at the health care level is recommended)
Dental Office Emergencies
This course discusses how the dental office team can prepare itself to handle medical emergencies.

Boards of Dental Examiners

Additional Resources

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