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🔍 Dental Emergency Triage Identifier

Answer 4 quick sets of questions — consciousness, vitals, symptoms, and patient context — to identify the most likely medical emergency and get immediate management actions.

🚨 View Full Emergency Protocols ⚠️ Decision support — not a replacement for training
Step 1 of 4 — Consciousness

1 Consciousness Level — AVPU

Tap the response that best matches the patient right now

Diagnostic Framework Sources

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Resuscitation Council UK (2021)

Medical Emergencies in Dental Practice — recognition criteria and AVPU assessment framework used in this tool.

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Malamed SF. Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office. 7th ed. Mosby, 2014

ISBN 978-0-323-08099-6. Differential diagnosis tables and vital sign thresholds used in the scoring algorithm.

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Atherton et al. Medical emergencies in general dental practice in Great Britain. Br Dent J. 1999;186(2):72–9

DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4808047. Prevalence data and incidence rates for each emergency type informing the pre-test probabilities.

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NICE CG134 — Anaphylaxis (updated 2020)

Recognition criteria for anaphylaxis used in this tool: urticaria, angioedema, bronchospasm, and cardiovascular collapse.

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Jevon P. Medical Emergencies in the Dental Practice. Wiley-Blackwell, 2012

Differential diagnosis algorithms and symptom-based recognition criteria for dental clinic emergencies.

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Meechan & Greenwood. Medical emergencies in dental practice. Br Dent J. 2003;195(2):71–8

DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4810380. Recognition features and clinical triggers used for context-based scoring in this tool.

Algorithm note: Scoring weights are derived from symptom prevalence data in the sources above. This tool is decision support — it does not replace clinical training, BLS certification, or clinical judgment. Always consider the full clinical picture.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you identify a medical emergency in the dental clinic?
Use the AVPU scale first (Alert / Voice / Pain / Unresponsive), then assess the primary presentation, measure vital signs (pulse, SpO₂, BP, blood glucose), and review clinical context (patient history, drugs given). Systematic assessment takes under 60 seconds and significantly narrows the differential diagnosis.
How do you distinguish syncope from anaphylaxis?
Syncope: gradual onset, bradycardia, pallor/sweating, no skin rash, triggered by anxiety/pain, recovers rapidly on lying flat. Anaphylaxis: rapid onset, tachycardia, urticaria or angioedema, wheeze or stridor, does NOT recover on lying flat, requires Adrenaline 0.5mg IM immediately. The presence of urticaria, angioedema, or wheeze confirms anaphylaxis.
How do you differentiate hypoglycaemia from stroke?
Always check blood glucose first in any confused patient. Blood glucose <4 mmol/L = hypoglycaemia (treat with oral glucose). Stroke presents with unilateral facial drooping, arm weakness, and speech difficulty (FAST) and does not respond to glucose. If in doubt, test glucose before assuming stroke — an untreated hypoglycaemic patient can suffer brain injury.
How do you tell asthma from hyperventilation?
Asthma: expiratory wheeze (audible), SpO₂ <94%, known asthma history, does not improve with reassurance alone. Hyperventilation: no wheeze, SpO₂ normal (>95%), perioral and hand tingling, anxiety history, improves with controlled breathing. The key test is SpO₂ and auscultation for wheeze.
What makes local anaesthetic toxicity (LAST) different from other emergencies?
LAST occurs during or within minutes of LA injection. Early signs are unique: perioral tingling, metallic taste, tinnitus, and agitation — before any cardiovascular symptoms. This prodrome, combined with timing of the LA injection, is the diagnostic hallmark. If seizure or cardiovascular collapse follows a recent LA injection, treat as LAST: stop LA, call 999, oxygen, IV access, midazolam for seizures.
What does this triage tool actually calculate?
The tool uses a weighted scoring algorithm based on clinical recognition criteria from Resuscitation Council UK 2021, Malamed 7th ed, and NICE CG134. Each answer adds or subtracts points from 14 possible emergencies. Results are ranked by total score. This is decision support — high scores indicate clinical probability, not certainty. Always use clinical judgment alongside this tool.