DOI: 10.36347/sjds.2017.v04i05.007

Pages: 243-245

Training in the management of medical emergencies is considered an essential component of the undergraduate dental curriculum. Few diseases and their treatments increase the likelihood of a medical emergency dur-ing dental care, hence dentists must be prepared to manage a variety of medical emergencies.The specific aims of this study were to assess the knowledge dental graduates have regarding medical emergencies; to identify their ability to assess and handle emergency situations; and to evaluate their knowledge about the drugs prescribed in various clinical conditions. A questionnaire with a set of eleven questions was designed to obtain relevant information on the drugs prescribed by dental graduates in various clinical conditions and the management of most commonly encountered emergencies. The questionnaire also sought information on the frequency of medical emergencies encountered in clinical practice. The questionnaire was handed over to the interns, postgraduates and clinicians in Mangalore. 400 dental graduates were included in the study. The results observed were 96% of the dentists knew the prophylaxis regimen before starting surgical dental procedures in patients with infective endocarditis. 98% had knowledge about the drugs to be avoided in chronic alcoholics and in pregnant women 96% knew the treatment of choice for anaphylactic shock. Knowledge regarding the International Normalized Ratio values was low, only 62% of the respondents could answer the question. Our study concluded that most respondents were well versed to deal with medical emergencies occurring in the dental clinics and had adequate knowledge regarding the medications prescribed under various medical conditions.