Protocol for Sudden Cardiac Arrest in the Dental Setting

By Ashlyn R. Atwell, RDH, BSDH; Nina Matheney, RDH, BSDH; Faizan Kabani, RDH, MHA, MBA, PhD; and Eric Fox, RDH, MS

Being prepared can spell the difference between life and death for patients experiencing a cardiac emergency in the dental office. More than 383,000 people experience sudden cardiac arrest each year in the United States, and less than 12% survive.¹ This is one of the most frequently seen medical emergencies in the dental office, and clinicians and bystanders have less than 5 minutes to act before the victim develops permanent neurological damage.² Ensuring staff members are well trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillator use—along with having immediate access to emergency equipment—are imperative for prompt intervention.

* References can be found in the original article via the link below.
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