Renu Aggarwal

Emergencies cannot be totally prevented but can be managed appropriately with thorough knowledge of the signs, symptoms, and accurate treatment of the emergencies. Accomplishing this depends on the combined effort of the dental specialist, staff, and immediate availability of the critical drugs and equipments for the procedure. Prevention, by ensuring good history and physical examination, is better and cheaper than embarking on therapeutic measures. Medical emergencies can happen anywhere. The stressful nature of a dental visit can trigger an emergency in sensitive patients. Knowledge is power. Know what to do, know your limitations, and most of all, know when to call in experts. This threefold approach that addresses prevention, preparation, and action will help medical and dental offices to develop or evaluate their emergency response plans, implement comprehensive emergency management procedures, support staff training and readiness, and reinforce a culture of safety.