title: Medical emergencies in the dental surgery. Part 1: Preparation of the office and basic management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medical emergencies can and do happen in the dental surgery. In the 20- to 30-year practice lifetime of the typical dentist, he/she will encounter between five and seven emergency situations. Being prepared in advance of the emergency increases the likelihood of a successful outcome. PURPOSE OF THE PAPER: To prepare members of the dental office staff to be able to promptly recognize and efficiently manage those medical emergency situations that can occur in the dental office environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preparation of the dental office to promptly recognize and efficiently manage medical emergencies is predicated on successful implementation of the following four steps: basic life support for ALL members of the dental office staff; creation of a dental office emergency team; activation of emergency medial services (EMS) when indicated; and basic emergency drugs and equipment. The basic emergency algorithm (P->C->A->B->D) is designed for implementation in all emergency situations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prompt implementation of the basic emergency management protocol can significantly increase the likelihood of a successful result when medical emergencies occur in the dental office environment.
authors.forename: Stanley F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Malamed
mesh_terms: D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D047548:Defibrillators; D003770:Dental Offices / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003797:Dental Staff / Q000193:education; D004630:Emergencies; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008397:Masks; D010348:Patient Care Team; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology; D011674:Pulse
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations