Oral Health and Dental Management

Competencies of dentist in handling common medical emergencies in selected cities of the NCR: Basis for a proposed improvement program

5^th American Dental Congress

October 05-07, 2015 Philadelphia, USA

Marylin V Ang, Barcarse and Romina R

Centro Escolar University, Philippines

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Oral Health Dent Manag

Abstract:

Dentists are known for their major role and that is to render dental treatment but they are also expected to be proficient and prepared during critical situations particularly on the off chance that it happens in one�??s dental clinic. The accessible data concluded that dental graduates across the world are not satisfactorily skilled in handling medical emergencies; an issue obliging an enhanced undergraduate training. The main thrusts of the study were to determine the profile of the respondents in terms of number of years in practice, types of workplace and seminars attended. It was paramount to recognize the practices, skills and knowledge of dentists in handling common emergencies and their points of view regarding this concern to be able to identify the necessary proposed improvement program. Purposive sampling technique was utilized in choosing the respondents. Inclusion criteria focused on dentists with established dental office located in Manila, Makati and Quezon City that are practicing for more than 5 years. Questionnaire was validated and undergone Crochbach�??s alpha reliability test prior to distribution among the respondents. Data gathered revealed that dentists in the selected cities are not well-informed with regards to protocols of different medical emergency conditions. The respondents were also unprepared in handling different medications that deals with different routes of administration like intravenous injection of Epinephrine or intramuscular injection of Dipen hydramine and were slightly unprepared in carrying out task such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation and Heimlich manoeuvre. Therefore, different suggestions were highly recommended such as amendment of laws and provision of policies and guidelines in handling common medical emergencies among dentist nationwide, improvement of dental curriculum through establishment of urgent care clinic and integration of course subject that deals with the medical emergency management. At the end of the study an improvement program dealing with medical emergencies management was proposed.

Biography :

Marylin V Ang has finished her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree and earned an award as the most outstanding student in Clinical Proficiency in Prosthodontics. She has completed Master of Science in Health Science Education major in Dental Education from Centro Escolar University Manila, Philippines. She is currently working as Clinical Instructor and Removable Partial Denture Clinical Proficiency Examiner at Prosthodontics section in CEU Manila.

Email: mvang@ceu.edu.ph