Why all the additional Drugs?!

Maintaining certain drugs in your dental drug kit is now a standard of care. Having the wrong drugs will make you liable should a medical emergency occur under your care. Simply owning these medications implies an ability to use them. If you are NOT fully trained and fully familiar with the drugs in your dental emergency drug kit, GET RID OF THEM! Get them out of your office. You are exposing your practice and yourself to a great deal of liability.

That black box of ampules that you purchased years ago, likely contains drugs NOT recommended by the ADA, for use by the general practitioner. It was designed for specialists, those trained and certified to use them. Drugs like Talwin, Tigan and Atropine are fatal if used incorrectly. These drugs are used to treat a patient... your job is to stabilize a patient suffering from a medical emergency in the dental office, long enough for EMS to arrive.

These are the ONLY Emergency Drugs for the dental office, as recommended by the ADA and Dr Stanley Malamed in his international clinic series 'Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office'.

1. Epinephrine -Anaphillaxis .30mg Adult (Over 66lbs) & .15mg Child (Under 66lbs) preferably in an auto-injector form (Epi-pen)
2. Diphenhydramine -Sever Edema 50mg (I suggest injections)
3. Albuterol Inhaler -Bronchospasm
4. Nitroglycerin -Angina
5. Insta-Glucose -Hypoglycemia
6. Aspirin -Cardiac Arrest 325mg (Half tablet for child)
7. Smelling Salts -Syncope
8. Oxygen -Nearly EVERY medical emergency

Again, anything more than these drugs, and you are now treating the patients medical emergency, not simply stabilizing them.

The 7 Drugs you need in a medical emergency

Don't Create Liability (by trying to Reduce it)

Being a responsible dental practitioner, you realize that it is necessary to have an up to date emergency drug kit immediately available in the event a medical emergency should occur. Did you know however that having certain drugs in your kit actually creates liability and malpractice exposure?

What to Avoid

If you own a commercially available boxed drug kit, it likely contains drugs not intended for the general dental practitioner; Talwin, Tigan, Atropine etc., which are specialized medications used to 'treat' a patient, not 'stabilize' a patient. Your job as a practitioner is to stabilize a patient or Keep Them Alive - until EMS arrives. Simply owning these meds in your dental medical emergency drug kit implies a proficiency in using them. If you are not familiar with those little glass ampules, you would be well advised to remove them from your kit and dispose of them immediately.

Stick with These

Here are the ONLY 7 Drugs a dental practitioner should have (and be familiar with):

1. Epinepherine .30mg (adult) and .15mg (child) in auto-injector form
2. Diphenhydramine I suggest auto-injectors in the event allergic reaction is so severe that the patients airway becomes swollen shut and can't swallow liquid or pill form.
3. Albuterol Inhaler For respiratory issues.
4. Nitroglycerin Sublingual tablets in the event patient forgot his.
5. Aspirin Tabs For onset of cardiac arrest
6. Insta-Glucose For hypoglycemia (The second leading cause of unconsciousness)
7. Supplemental Oxygen Portable tank for nearly any emergency

*Ammonia inhalants are also handy in the event of syncope (Fainting) but you should level back the chair first, that usually is all that is needed.

Take this Course

I strongly suggest attending Dr. Stanley Malameds 'Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office' course when it is available through your dental association or next conference. I have attended it on several occasions and he not only explains how and when to use them, but also sends home the message that the other meds are unnecessary and a waste of money. Dr. Malamed also has a book and DVD out by the same name, but you will get more from attending the course.

Please have a look at http://www.clammedical.com/ our drug kit contains only those medications recommended, all in pre-loaded devices for ease of use in a medical emergency, and it is so compact that it fits in your defibrillator carry case. Our site also has supporting documents from the ADA and other associations that urge dental practitioners to follow the same advice.

About the Author;

John Alibrandi is the Chief Training Officer for First Responder Educational Services which provides emergency medical training to dental offices, law enforcement agencies, universities and USCG Captains around the United States.

For more information, please visit http://www.fres-cpr.com/