Emergency Medical Kits for Dental Offices

Posted in Emergency Medical Kits, Cloud EHS Platform.

If you’re a dentist, it is extremely important to have an Emergency Medical Kit on hand at all times. They are mandated by law in some states to treat dental patients in the event of an emergency. In this article, we will discuss why Emergency Medical Kits are so important for dentists and what laws apply to them. We will also provide a few tips on choosing the right Emergency Medical Kit for your dental office.

Overview of Requirements

A Dentist’s Emergency Medical Kit should include a range of medical supplies to ensure preparedness in the event of a typical emergency situation. The emergency medical kit should include the 7 basic medications as recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA) plus naloxone and any additional supplies that may be necessary for a particular practice specialty.

This post is intended to provide information about the training, basic and critical medications, and equipment required for general dental practice dentists as well as specialties such as oral surgeons and their employees to deal with the most typical and anticipated acute medical emergencies in a practice.

Acute medical emergencies are very common in the dental office. Dentists and their staff must be able to respond promptly to any emergency, such as calling for help and having the equipment and medications needed to deal with one, which can make the difference between successful emergency management and failure.

A dental team approach, with staff members that have current certification in basic life support for health care providers and the dentist, is required and foundational in preparing your dental practice for emergencies as well as having patient healthfirst emergency medical kits by Protect It Dental on hand and ready for any emergency.

What medications are critical for managing dental emergencies?

The American Dental Association (ADA) strongly advocates that all dentists have a comprehensive dental emergency kit on hand to effectively handle any emergencies including the seven essential medications as recommended by the ADA. To be prepared for any medical emergency, it is essential to store both over-the-counter and prescription drugs in your dental emergency medical kit.

The following medications are recommended for emergency dental care:

Albuterol

Albuterol is an emergency drug used to treat bronchospasms or narrowing of the airways in the lungs and is called an albuterol inhaler. It is a short-acting beta-2 agonist, meaning it stimulates certain receptors in the bronchi to open up and make breathing easier. This emergency drug should be included in any dental emergency kit, as it can be used in emergency situations to help with shortness of breath. An albuterol inhaler is also commonly used for emergency treatment of asthma attacks, bronchitis, and other respiratory problems that cause difficulty breathing. An albuterol inhaler is often prescribed by doctors as an emergency preparedness measure and should be included in any dental emergency kit. Knowing how to administer emergency drugs is important for emergency situations, so it’s wise to seek medical advice when stocking a dental emergency kit.

Diphenhydramine

Diphenhydramine is a medication used for emergency situations in dental offices. Diphenhydramine can be found as a single active ingredient or combined with other medications in emergency drugs. It is considered a histamine blocker and is most commonly used to treat allergic reactions, hypersensitivity reactions, and anaphylaxis in your emergency kit. Additionally, it can be used to treat other emergency situations such as angioedema and drug-induced hypersensitivity. Diphenhydramine is also effective in treating symptoms like hives, itching, swelling, mild anxiety, and sneezing. It is important to always have emergency medications on hand in dental offices. Diphenhydramine can provide quick and effective relief in emergency situations. In conclusion, Diphenhydramine is an emergency drug found in dental emergency kits and can be used to treat emergency situations such as allergic reactions, hypersensitivity reactions, and anaphylaxis. It is a key component of dental emergency kits due to its efficacy in emergency settings.

Epinephrine

Epinephrine, also known as adrenalin, is a hormone that acts as a natural stimulant in the body. It is prepared and used medically for the treatment of cardiac arrest, anaphylactic shock, severe allergic reactions, and asthma attacks. It is often stored as an epinephrine injection and in the form of an EpiPen in dental emergency medical kits to be prepared for medical emergencies. When epinephrine is used medically, it works by stimulating the heart and increasing blood pressure, thus allowing more oxygen to reach vital organs. Its life-saving qualities make epinephrine an essential drug for treating emergencies.

Aspirin

Aspirin is a widely used oral tablet medication that has analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties. It is mainly used to treat dental and medical emergencies in patients, such as headaches, fevers, muscle pain, dental pain, and inflammation. Aspirin should be an essential component of any dental or medical emergency kit; it can be taken orally and should be kept readily available for quick relief in an emergency. Aspirin can be used to treat heart-related issues, such as chest pain and acute coronary syndrome. In addition, Aspirin should not be taken by people who are allergic to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Taking Aspirin can help reduce the risk of stroke or myocardial infarction (heart attack) in patients with coronary artery disease. With proper use, Aspirin can be a valuable tool in managing dental and medical emergencies.

Glucose

Glucose is a nutrient that plays an essential role in the body’s energy metabolism. The oral glucose gel medication is used to treat patients who experience hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar levels. By providing fast-acting carbohydrates, it quickly raises blood sugar levels and helps to restore the normal function of the nervous system and other organs affected by hypoglycemia. This medication is easy to take orally and has been shown to reduce the amount of time it takes for patients to recover from hypoglycemic episodes. Additionally, oral glucose gel is relatively inexpensive and widely available. As such, it is an important tool in the management of hypoglycemia for many patients.

Nitroglycerin

Nitroglycerin is a medication used to treat chest pain caused by angina. It comes in several forms, including nitroglycerin tablets which is a sublingual tablet, and nitroglycerin spray. The nitroglycerin tablets are taken two to six times daily when needed for relief of acute symptoms of angina. The nitroglycerin spray can be used when symptoms of chest pain occur, and the sublingual tablet is taken at the onset of angina. Nitroglycerin works by widening blood vessels, which helps to increase the flow of oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. It also helps to reduce strain on the heart muscle, allowing it to relax and pump blood more efficiently. This helps to reduce the frequency and intensity of chest pain caused by angina.

Ammonia

Ammonia inhalants are commonly used in general dentistry practices as an effective treatment for a variety of oral and dental health problems. Ammonia, which is a strong-smelling gas typically used to treat syncope or fainting, can be administered in a variety of ways such as through inhalation. Dentists use ammonia inhalation or smelling salts to provide quick relief from dizziness or fatigue. The inhalent is recommended to be held at least 4 inches (10-15 cm) away from the nose for optimal results. Inhaling salt is beneficial for athletes and patients alike, as the fumes enter their nose and irritate the lungs while transporting vital oxygen to the brain. This quick process helps them regain consciousness in no time! In addition, ammonia inhalants have proven to be a safe and effective treatment for many dental health conditions, making them an important tool in the practice of general dentistry. As ammonia inhalants are a non-invasive treatment, they provide an ideal solution for many dental problems. Overall, ammonia is a versatile and effective tool that dentists use to improve the oral health of their patients.

Naloxone

Due to the epidemic of opioid use and overdose, Naloxone, also called by the brand name Narcan was added to the 7 essential medications the ADA recommends for all dentists. Naloxone nasal spray is an advantage for general dentists, as it can treat opioid overdose in the early stages of a medical emergency. This medicine works by blocking the effects of opioids, such as heroin and prescription pain medications. It is important to note that naloxone nasal spray is not intended to be used as treatment or prevention of opioid abuse. It should only be administered in the event of an overdose, and it should always be given in conjunction with other medical care. In addition, naloxone nasal spray can help reduce the risk of death from an opioid overdose. By administering naloxone nasal spray, general dentists can help to save lives and reduce the public health burden associated with opioid misuse.

Choosing the Correct Emergency Medical Kits for Dental Offices

We have six emergency medical kits designed to allow any dental practice to quickly choose the correct EMK for their practice. The two main questions that need to be answered are as follows:

Do you treat pediatric patients? If so you need a kit that includes a pediatric EpiPen.
Do you treat geriatric patients? If so you need nitroglycerin spray instead of nitroglycerin tablets. For some elderly patients, the spray is much easier to administer due to possible problems with swallowing tablets.

Product Features for our Emergency Medical Kits for Dental Offices:

Automatic Notification of Expired Items
Optional Automatic Replenishment Service – Never get caught with expired items
Medication Status tracking via iProtect Practice Readiness Software
Outbound texting feature for re-ordering used medications
Clear layout and labeling for easy identification
Space for additional medication expiration tracking

Challenges with Maintaining Dental Emergency Medical Kits

One of the biggest obstacles for dental practices is keeping their emergency medication program in compliance due to the limited shelf life of these medications and managing expiration dates. Expired medications not only create liability for a dental practice but also put patients at risk for adverse reactions.

At Protect It Dental we provide an auto-replenishment program that eliminates this liability and allows dentists to focus on patient care. Our program ensures your emergency medical kits are always stocked with the most up-to-date medications and supplies to provide quality care for your patients. With our auto replenishment program, you won’t have to worry about expired medications ever again! By taking the burden of managing expiration dates off of dentists, we can ensure that optimal patient care is always provided. Let us take care of the maintenance of your emergency medical kits today!

Conclusion

At Protect It Dental, we are dedicated to helping dentists stay prepared for emergencies in their practice. We supply new, top-quality Emergency Medications, Emergency Medical Kits, and Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and accessories at affordable prices to dental practices throughout North America. Contact us now to learn more about our auto replenishment program.