Emergencies in the Dental Office

This quiz accompanies the ADA Practical Guide to Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office found in the ADA Store. The complete kit contains a comprehensive video series and corresponding book that offers an in-depth look at many medical emergency topics. The eLearning product above is only the quiz, with no additional content.

Although portions can be completed in a group study setting, each participant must register for and complete their own quiz using their own account in order to receive 3 CE credits. 

Updated for 2018
This program discusses acute coronary syndrome – angina pectoris and myocardial infarction – conditions that initially manifest themselves as ‘chest pain.’ The prevention, recognition and management of angina pectoris and myocardial infarction are reviewed in-depth.

Updated for 2018
Systemic adverse drug reactions (ADRs) may occur any time a drug is administered to a patient. This program describes allergy, overdose and idiosyncrasy, and goes on to discuss the problem of local anesthetic overdose and overdose of sedative drugs, their prevention, recognition and management.

Updated for 2018
Bronchospasm and hyperventilation are not uncommon emergencies in the dental office. Additionally foreign body airway obstruction has occurred with patients aspirating and choking small dental devices. This program reviews the prevention, recognition and management of some common causes of respiratory distress.

Updated for 2018
Most allergic reactions are relatively mild and non-life-threatening, however some are acutely life-threatening – anaphylaxis. This program reviews the prevention, recognition and management of allergic reactions in the dental office environment.

Learning Objectves:

1. Differentiate between allergy and overdose
2. Discuss the mechanism of allergic reactions
3. Describe management of a delayed onset allergic skin reaction
4. Define anaphylaxis
5. List common etiologies of anaphylaxis
6. Describe the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis
7. Describe the management protocol for anaphylaxis
8. Discuss the rationale for the statement that “epinephrine is the most important drug in emergency medicine.”
   

Abstract:

Allergy, overdose and idiosyncrasy are the three systemic adverse drug reactions. They are defined and contrasted, followed by an in-depth discussion of allergy. The mechanism behind the allergic reaction is reviewed followed by a review of the more commonly observed non-life threatening allergic reaction as well as the life-threatening allergy – anaphylaxis.

Outline:

1. Introduction
2. Allergy
3. Anaphylaxis

PREPCE

Updated for 2018
Syncope, hypoglycemia and seizures are not uncommon emergencies in the dental office. This program reviews the prevention, recognition and management of these common causes of altered consciousness

Learning Objectives:

1. Define ‘altered consciousness’
2. List three common causes of altered consciousness in the dental environment
3. Describe the management of hypoglycemia in the conscious patient
4. Describe the management of hypoglycemia in the unconscious patient
5. List four common causes of seizures in the dental environment
6. Describe the management of seizures in the dental environment
7. List common etiologies of syncope in the dental environment
8. Describe the pathophysiology of syncope
9. Describe the management of syncope

PREPCE

Updated for 2018
Preparation of the office and staff for medical emergencies that will inevitably occur is discussed in this course. Basic life support; an in-office emergency response team; activating emergency medical services; and emergency drugs & equipment are reviewed.

Updated for 2018
This program reviews the basic management protocol for all medical emergencies occurring in the dental office environment –P-C-A-B-D (Positioning – Circulation – Airway – Breathing – Definitive Care). 

Updated for 2018
This course describes the most common medical emergencies occurring in the dental environment and describes the steps necessary to prevent their occurrence: the medical history questionnaire, monitoring of vital signs; dialogue history, and the stress reduction protocol. A physical evaluation system is introduced.

Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart ceases to pump blood. The victim – unconscious, not breathing, and with no blood pressure – will die unless effective resuscitative efforts are commenced immediately. This program discusses the recognition and management of cardiac arrest emphasizing the importance of basic life support (CPR) and defibrillation (AED) in improving the chances for a successful outcome.

Learning Objective:

1. Discuss survival rates for out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest in adults and in children
2. List and describe the steps of the BLS-HCP algorithm (the ‘Chain of Survival’)
3. Explain the rationale behind the change in technique of BLS from A-B-C to C-A-B
4. Name the ‘shockable’ rhythms of cardiac arrest
5. Name the 4 rhythms of cardiac arrest
6. Discuss the automated external defibrillator (AED)

Abstracts:

More than 360,000 deaths from sudden cardiac arrest occur in the United States annually – approximately 1,000 every day. The causes of cardiac arrest, in both adult and pediatric patients, are reviewed along with the presenting premonitory signs & symptoms that lead to sudden cardiac arrest.  Management of cardiac arrest – the successful resuscitation of the victim without brain damage – is predicated on circulating blood containing oxygen to the heart and brain and delivering an electric shock (defibrillation) as soon as possible after collapse. The use of an AED and its mechanism of action is discussed.

Outline:

1. Introduction
   1. The Heart
      1. Function of the heart is to pump
      2. Coronary arteries
         1. Coronary artery disease
   2. What is a ‘heart attack’?
      1. Myocardial infarction versus cardiac arrest
2. Acute myocardial infarction
3. Management
   1. Classical signs & symptoms
   2. Pre-hospital management
      1. PCAB
      2. MONA
   3. Acute MI dysrhythmias
      1. PVCs signs & symptoms
4. Sudden cardiac arrest
   1. When does AMI degenerate into SCA?
   2. Definition of cardiac arrest
   3. Cardiac arrest rhythms
      1. Shockable rhythms
         1. Ventricular tachycardia
         2. Ventricular fibrillation
      2. Non-shockable rhythms
         1. Asystole
         2. Pulseless electrical activity (PEA)
   4. Signs & symptoms of cardiac arrest
      1. Clinical death
      2. Biological (cellular) death
   5. Management of cardiac arrest
      1. PCABD
      2. Survival from cardiac arrest
         1. The importance of time
         2. The importance of bystander initiated BLS
         3. The importance of defibrillation
      3. 2010 American Heart Association algorithms for BLS
         1. Lay-person CPR
         2. Heathcare Provider CPR
         3. Review of BLS for Healthcare provider guidelines and changes from previous guidelines
      4. Defibrillation
         1. The importance of time from collapse to defibrillation
         2. AEDs
            1. How to use an AED
            2. How an AED works
   6. Pediatric cardiac arrest
      1. Etiologies
         1. Airway obstruction most common cause in younger children
      2. Prevention of pediatric cardiac arrest

PREPCE