Medical emergencies and sedation emergencies can, do, and will occur at dental offices. Emergency drug kits contain the medications required for many such emergencies, including the (often multiple doses of) epinephrine needed for anaphylaxis, the nitroglycerin called for in cases of angina, and the albuterol used to treat asthmatics. The ADA Council of Scientific Affairs acknowledges the importance of emergency drug kits by stating that all dental offices should maintain at least the basic recommended emergency equipment and drugs. In fact, the package insert of local anesthetics states that dental practitioners should have the proper equipment and resuscitative drugs before administering any local anesthetic. Do you? This program is a very comprehensive program prepared for both medical emergency drugs and sedation emergency drugs.
Do not fall under the illusion that all emergencies are resolved via a simple call to 911, and that emergency drug kits are unnecessary because emergency medical services can easily take care of any problems. With EMS response times averaging more than eleven minutes in the city and 15 minutes in rural areas, calling 911 constitutes only one step of an effective medical emergency preparedness plan; treatment of a medical emergency should begin before EMS arrives.
The ADA Council of Scientific Affairs names seven core drugs that belong in every emergency drug kit: oxygen, glucose, diphenhydramine, nitroglycerin, albuterol, aspirin, and epinephrine. Every dental office in the United States should have these seven drugs, up-to-date, to complete its store of essential medications. If sedation is performed in the dental office, that will mean more emergency drugs are needed in the event of a sedation emergency.
Unquestionably, everybody in the office—the dentist, the dental hygienist, the dental assistant, and even the nurses that work in the dental office—should be familiar with each drug within the drug kit, know each one’s effects, and be comfortable with drawing up and labeling the drugs for administration. Health care-related programs should have taught about the emergency drug kit. A thorough discussion of the emergency drug kit should take place during the monthly mock emergency drills performed by the dental office. Additionally, prepare documentation to use during a medical emergency that shows which drug was administered along with time, dosage and route; your records will be vitally important after the fact!
After completing this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Summarize the overall scope and importance of being prepared for medical emergencies in dental offices.
- Recognize the limitations and legal implications of the information presented in managing medical emergencies in a dental setting.
- Identify ten critical errors ("The Ten Deadly Failures in Dental Offices") commonly made in dental practices that contribute to medical emergencies and describe ways to prevent them.
- Explain the six essential steps in the chain of survival ("Six Links of Survival") that improve outcomes during medical emergencies in dental settings.
- Describe the components of the 5R Emergency Response Plan and apply it effectively during medical emergencies.
- Demonstrate knowledge of basic emergency management techniques that can be employed in dental offices, including patient assessment and initial response actions.
- Identify key emergency drugs and apply corresponding treatment algorithms for various medical emergencies encountered in dental practice.
