When was the last time you checked your emergency kit, oxygen tanks, or AED pads, or practiced responding as a team to a critical situation in the operatory?
Print & Go GuidanceBy Genni Burkhart
Every member of your dental team should be prepared to act quickly in an emergency. But when was the last time you checked your emergency kit, oxygen tank, or AED pads, or practiced responding together as a team to a critical situation in the operatory?
In the latest installment of DOCS Education's Elite Learning Series, anesthesiologist and DOCS faculty member Dr. Steve Yun, MD guides dentists and their teams through the most dangerous dental emergencies, including cardiac arrest, airway obstruction, and sedation-related complications.
The course offers continuing education credit and delivers experience-based instruction for managing the most common high-risk emergencies for dental practices.
Simple Solutions
This course, titled “The Three Most Dangerous Dental Emergencies,” focuses on clinical reality rather than textbook procedures. Drawing from hundreds of inspections in working dental offices, Dr. Yun explains how emergency protocols often collapse under pressure and how teams can correct these gaps before they lead to harm.
One example is CPR on a dental chair. Most chairs are not stable enough for hard, fast compressions. Moving a patient to the floor or using a backboard may be unrealistic for large or unconscious individuals. However, a practical alternative is to place a second chair under the patient's shoulders to create a firmer surface. This simple technique can support more effective compressions when every second counts.
Avoiding Critical Mistakes
Dr. Steve Yun, MD
According to Dr. Yun, cardiac arrest in the dental office is chaotic, and one of the most common oversights is forgetting to apply the AED. In fact, early defibrillation significantly improves survival outcomes. But are your pads expired, or have you misplaced the device altogether? These oversights delay care and can cost patients precious time.
Dr. Yun notes that 40% of the offices he inspects have AED pads that are no longer usable due to desiccated adhesive gel. This affects both energy delivery and EKG signal clarity.
Oxygen is another overlooked emergency medication. It's essential in every dental office, especially those using local anesthetics with epinephrine. Dr. Yun covers how to check PSI levels, calculate oxygen volume, and ensure equipment readiness.
Common oxygen-related issues include:
- Tanks are stored out of sight or in difficult-to-access locations.
- Cylinders have low or empty pressure.
- Missing or broken wrenches are needed to open the tank.
Dentists must verify that oxygen is available, accessible, and functional in their practices on a regular basis.
Ventilation Under Pressure
Positive pressure ventilation is often misunderstood. Demand valve systems deliver oxygen at high flow rates, but misuse can cause barotrauma. Ambu bags provide a safer and more intuitive solution. They allow for ventilation even without the need for supplemental oxygen.
Technique is as important as equipment. Dr. Yun explains how to create an effective mask seal using the C and E method. Many professionals hyperventilate patients during CPR, unaware that too many breaths reduce cerebral blood flow. Slower ventilation, about 12 to 16 breaths per minute, is safer and more effective.
When Things Go Wrong
Bag-mask ventilation is a critical skill that does not always go as planned. Clinicians must adapt. Using oral or nasal airways can be helpful, although not every office has them on hand. Dr. Yun encourages the use of a two-handed technique when needed and reinforces the importance of adaptability. The message is to keep trying until effective ventilation is achieved.
To improve outcomes:
- Practice the two-hand mask ventilation technique.
- Stock oral and nasal airways when possible.
- Avoid hyperventilation during CPR.
The course also explores when to manage sedation in-house and when to refer. Pediatric patients with complex conditions or adults with special needs and medical comorbidities often require the presence of an anesthesiologist. Dentists who recognize their limitations and enlist specialists when necessary provide safer, more efficient care.
Practical Tools and Lifesaving Mindsets
Dr. Yun shares free downloadable resources during the course. These include visual emergency guides and medication protocols developed with Dr. Stanley Malamed. Teams are encouraged to print and post these tools in visible locations throughout the practice.
Ultimately, preparation builds confidence. With regular drills, up-to-date equipment, and a team ready to act, dentists can respond to all situations, including rare but serious emergencies, with clarity and control.
As Dr. Yun notes, you do not need to be perfect. You need to be ready!
To access the full DOCS Education course, earn 1 CE credit, and download included materials, visit the course page here.
Author: With over 15 years as an award-winning journalist, editor, and writer, Genni Burkhart has covered everything from news, politics, and healthcare to finance, corporate leadership, and technology. As editor-in-chief of The Incisor newsletter and blog and features writer at DOCS Education, she brings a refreshing insight and a passion for storytelling to the world of sedation dentistry.
