Emergency Supplies
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Quick Tips for the Dental Office
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Emergency Supplies
Medical emergencies can , and do , happen in the dental office . These emergencies may be related directly to dental therapy , or they may occur by chance in the office . Regardless , dental offices need to be prepared to provide basic life support , and seek emergency medical services quickly . Dentists need to be able to diagnose and treat common problems , but also effectively respond to less common , lifethreatening situations .
The State Board of Dentistry regulates the emergency medical equipment that must be kept by anesthesia permit holders , however , there are no regulations on basic emergency supplies that should be maintained by all dental offices . Many medical emergencies may be able to be treated without the use of drugs , but every dental office should have a basic emergency kit that contains drugs and equipment appropriate to the training of the dentist and type of patients being treated .
The American Dental Association offers the following recommendations on basic emergency supplies that should be maintained in the dental office .
Basic Emergency Equipment
• Portable oxygen cylinder ( E size ) with regulator
• Supplemental oxygen delivery devices including nasal cannula , nonbreathing mask with oxygen reservoir and nasal hood
• Bag-valve-mask device with oxygen reservoir
• Oropharyngeal airways ( adult sizes 7 , 8 9 cm )
• Magill forceps
• Automated external defibrillator ( AED ) **
• Stethoscope
• Sphygmomanometer with adult small , medium and large cuff sizes
• Wall clock with second hand
2024
Basic Emergency Medications
• Oxygen
• Epinephrine : Used to treat anaphylaxis resulting from severe allergic reactions or acute asthmatic attacks . A back-up injection should also be on hand in case the patient has a biphasic reaction .
• Diphenhydramine ( Histamine blockers ): Used to treat patients with mild or delayed onset allergic reactions
• Nitroglycerin : Used to relieve severe angina symptoms such as chest pain or pressure .
• Bronchodilator : Used to treat acute bronchospasm that may be experienced during an asthmatic attack or anaphylaxis
• Glucose : Simple sugar used to treat diabetic or hypoglycemic patients during a blood sugar related emergency .
• Aspirin : Administered as part of the MONA protocol when myocardial infarction is suspected .
• Aromatic ammonia : Used as a stimulant to improve the consciousness of patients who have fainted .
• Naloxone : Used to rapidly reverse opioid overdose