Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office: Prevention and Preparedness

Dr. Sonal Ugalmugle¹, Dr. Lina Chaban², Dr. Archana Nimale³, Dr. Manjiri Chakor⁴, Dr. Sruthi Kalakota⁵, Dr. Monica Milagros Parra Rodil⁶, Dr. Sandeep Singh^7, and Dr. Ridhi Bhola⁷

¹BDS, CSMSS Dental College & Hospital, Aurangabad, India

²BDS, Damascus University- Faculty of Dentistry, Syria

³BDS, RDH, Government Dental College, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India

⁴BDS, MDS (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery), RD Dental College and Research Center, Nagpur, India

⁵BDS, Drs. Sudha & Nageswara Rao Siddartha Institute of Dental Sciences, Chinoutpalli, Andhra Pradesh, India

⁶DMD, BS, Universidad Iberoamericana Av. Francia 129, Santo Domingo 10203, Dominican Republic and Florida International University, Miami, FL.

⁷MDS, Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences, Rohtak, India

Cite this paper:
Dr. Sonal Ugalmugle, Dr. Lina Chaban, Dr. Archana Nimale, Dr. Manjiri Chakor, Dr. Sruthi Kalakota, Dr. Monica Milagros Parra Rodil, Dr. Sandeep Singh and Dr. Ridhi Bhola. Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office: Prevention and Preparedness. American Journal of Clinical Medicine Research. 2026; 14(1):1-7. doi: 10.12691/ajcmr-14-1-1

Abstract

Medical emergencies, though infrequent, can occur unexpectedly in the dental office and may pose serious risks to patient safety if not promptly recognized and managed. The increasing prevalence of medically compromised patients, dental anxiety, and the use of local anesthesia and sedation have heightened the likelihood of such events in routine dental practice. This narrative review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of commonly encountered medical emergencies in the dental setting, with emphasis on their prevention and preparedness. Key areas discussed include patient assessment and risk identification, preventive strategies to minimize emergency occurrence, essential emergency drugs and equipment, staff training, and basic principles of emergency management. Emphasis is placed on the role of systematic preparation and regular training in improving outcomes. By enhancing awareness and preparedness, dental professionals can ensure timely intervention, reduce morbidity, and improve patient safety in the dental office.

Keywords:
Medical emergencies dental office prevention preparedness patient safety

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	Obata K, Naito H, Yakushiji H, Obara T, Ono K, Nojima T, et al. Incidence and characteristics of medical emergencies related to dental treatment: a retrospective single-center study. Acute Med Surg. 2021; 8(1):e651.
[2]	Varoni EM, Rigoni M, Lodi G, Sardella A, Muti P, Vitello A, et al. Medical emergencies in dental practice: a nationwide web-based survey of Italian dentists. Heliyon. 2023; 9(3): e13910.
[3]	Nunn P. Medical emergencies in the oral health care setting. J Dent Hyg. 2000; 74(2): 136–151.
[4]	Malamed SF. Medical emergencies in the dental surgery. Part 1: preparation of the office and basic management. J Ir Dent Assoc. 2015; 61(6): 302–308.
[5]	Vaughan M, Park A, Sholapurkar A, Esterman A. Medical emergencies in dental practice: management requirements and international practitioner proficiency—a scoping review. Aust Dent J. 2018; 63(4): 455–466.
[6]	Špiljak B, Firić M, Sikora M, Brailo V. Self-assessment of readiness and equipment of dental clinics for managing medical emergencies in the Republic of Croatia. Acta Stomatol Croat. 2024; 58(4): 348–361.
[7]	Reed KL. Basic management of medical emergencies: recognizing a patient’s distress. J Am Dent Assoc. 2010; 141(Suppl 1) 20S–24S.
[8]	Vranić DN, Jurković J, Jeličić J, Balenović A, Stipančić G, Čuković-Bagić I. Medical emergencies in pediatric dentistry. Acta Stomatol Croat. 2016; 50(1): 72–80.
[9]	Lowe RN, Williams B, Claus LW. Diabetes: how to manage patients experiencing hypoglycaemia. Drugs Context. 2022; 11: 2021-9-11.
[10]	Demirbilek H, Vuralli D, Haris B, Hussain K. Managing severe hypoglycaemia in patients with diabetes: current challenges and emerging therapies. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2023; 16: 259–273.
[11]	Shenoi RP, Timm N; AAP Committee on Drugs; AAP Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine. Drugs used to treat pediatric emergencies. Pediatrics. 2020; 145(1): e20193450.
[12]	Kazem Pour M, Shokri F, Fozooni Moqadam B, Shokri M. Respiratory and pulmonary allergic emergencies in dental and periodontal surgery: a systematic review of identification, management, and prevention strategies. Bull Emerg Trauma. 2025; 13(3): 127–139.
[13]	Wilson MH, McArdle NS, Fitzpatrick JJ, Stassen LF. Medical emergencies in dental practice. J Ir Dent Assoc. 2009; 55(3): 134–143.
[14]	Lovik K, Murr NI. Seizure. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025.
[15]	Peskin RM, Siegelman LI. Emergency cardiac care: moral, legal, and ethical considerations. Dent Clin North Am. 1995; 39(3): 677–688.
[16]	Beecham GB, Nessel TA, Goyal A. Lidocaine. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025.
[17]	Pan J, Liao X, Zhang Z. Dentists should improve the ability to deal with medical emergencies in dental clinic. Hua Xi Kou Qiang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2015; 33(4): 336–338.
[18]	Collange O, Bildstein A, Samin J, Schaeffer R, Mahoudeau G, Féki A, et al. Prevalence of medical emergencies in dental practice. Resuscitation. 2010; 81(7): 915–916.
[19]	Alhamad M, Alnahwi T, Alshayeb H, Alzayer A, Aldawood O, Almarzouq A, et al. Medical emergencies encountered in dental clinics: a study from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. J Fam Community Med. 2015; 22(3): 175–179.
[20]	Shampaine GS. Patient assessment and preventive measures for medical emergencies in the dental office. Dent Clin North Am. 1999; 43(3): 383–400.
[21]	Cristea RA, Ganea M, Potra Cicalău GI, Ciavoi G. Dentophobia and the interaction between child patients and dentists: anxiety triggers in the dental office. Healthcare (Basel). 2025; 13(9): 1021.
[22]	Johnson TM, Kurt-Gabel C. Compliance with and attitudes towards the management of medical emergencies in general dental practice. Prim Dent J. 2014; 3(1): 41–45.
[23]	Emery RW, Guttenberg SA. Management priorities and treatment strategies for medical emergencies in the dental office. Dent Clin North Am. 1999; 43(3): 401–419.
[24]	Valizadeh S, Hosseinzadeh M. Review of dental management considerations for patients with cardiovascular conditions. Multidiscip Cardio Annal. 2024; 15(2): e158488.
[25]	Haas DA. Management of medical emergencies in the dental office: conditions in each country, the extent of treatment by the dentist. Anesth Prog. 2006; 53(1): 20–24.
[26]	Hendrix JM, Garmon EH. American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification System. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025.
[27]	Chester JG, Rudolph JL. Vital signs in older patients: age-related changes. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2011; 12(5): 337–343.
[28]	Kriakous SA, Elliott KA, Lamers C, Owen R. The effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction on the psychological functioning of healthcare professionals: a systematic review. Mindfulness (N Y). 2021; 12(1): 1–28.
[29]	Nanda A, Sahi H, et al. Evaluating and managing specific medical conditions in dental practice: a review of pre-treatment protocols. Med Res Arch. 2024; 12(10).
[30]	Jandu JS, Mohanaselvan A, Dahal R, et al. Strategies to reduce polypharmacy in older adults. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025.
[31]	Benzoni T, Agarwal A, Cascella M. Procedural sedation. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025.
[32]	Malamed SF. Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office. 5th ed. St. Louis: Mosby; 2000. p. 58–91.
[33]	Mart MF, Sendagire C, Ely EW, Riviello ED, Twagirumugabe T. Oxygen as an essential medicine. Crit Care Clin. 2022; 38(4): 795–808.
[34]	Becker DE, Rosenberg MB, Phero JC. Essentials of airway management, oxygenation, and ventilation: part 1—basic equipment and devices. Anesth Prog. 2014; 61(2): 78–83.
[35]	Basic life support (BLS) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the dental practice. Int Dent J. 2022; 72(1): 14–15.
[36]	Nogami K, Taniguchi S, Ichiyama T. Rapid deterioration of basic life support skills in dentists with basic life support healthcare provider certification. Anesth Prog. 2016; 63(2): 62–66.
[37]	Manton JW, Kennedy KS, Lipps JA, Pfeil SA, Cornelius BW. Medical emergency management in the dental office (MEMDO): a pilot study assessing a simulation-based training curriculum for dentists. Anesth Prog. 2021; 68(2): 76–84.
[38]	Lipp M, Kubota Y, Malamed SF, Matsuura H, Sykes P. Management of an emergency: to be prepared for the unwanted event. Anesth Pain Control Dent. 1992; 1(2): 90–102.
[39]	Gupta S, Mishra S, Behl S, Srikant N, Mascarenhas R. Knowledge of handling medical emergencies among general dental practitioners in India: a cross-sectional survey. BMC Res Notes. 2023; 16(1): 221.
[40]	Smereka J, Aluchna M, Aluchna A, Szarpak Ł. Preparedness and attitudes towards medical emergencies in the dental office among Polish dentists. Int Dent J. 2019; 69(4): 321–328.