Dental surgeons’ self-perception of medical urgencies and emergencies

DEYVERTON DOS SANTOS MENDES, RENAN RANGEL ROVETA, JENIFER MALINGRE DE OLIVEIRA, STELLA CRISTINA SOARES ARAÚJO, SAMARA REIS HILÁRIO, RENATA PITTELLA CANÇADO

Introduction: Medical urgencies and emergencies can occur before, during or after dental procedures, especially in patients with systemic impairment, so it is important that the dentist has the knowledge, drugs and basic equipment to conduct emergency care. Objectives: Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate the self-perception that dentists in Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil, have when facing urgent and emergency medical situations inside the dental office. Methods: The sample consisted of 81 professionals and the data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: Most professionals were specialists (40.7%) and 50.6% of the individuals answered that they have attended medical emergencies classes during their university classes. Regarding urgent and emergency situations, 69.1% of interviewees thought they were qualified to diagnose them and 61.7% said they felt able to intervene. It was observed that 48.1% have already experienced such situations in the dental office, of which 87.2% have said that they felt confident to put into practice the treatment that they have chosen. The majority stated that they do not have equipment and drugs in their dental office (67.9%). Conclusions: The study has concluded that there is a need for better training of dental surgeons, both during their graduation and in post-graduation courses, in order to have greater knowledge and safety for the correct intervention in situations of medical urgencies and emergencies.

Keywords: Emergencies. Dentistry. Self-assessment.

How to cite: Mendes DS, Roveta RR, Oliveira JM, Araújo SCS, Hilário SR, Cançado RP. Dental surgeons’ self-perception of medical urgencies and emergencies. J Braz Coll Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2021 May-Aug;7(2):29-36.

Monday, May 13, 2024 23:56