Kirkland Dentist, Seattle Washington

Kirkland Dentist

Certain dental equipment can save with the help of a kirkland dentist.

One emergency involves the cardiovascular system, especially sudden cardiac arrest and heart attack. Dentists could do very little to treat these life-threatening emergencies in a typical dental office setting. Now, a relatively new device called an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) is available to dentists that can often prevent death from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

Part of every dentist’s training is what to do in a medical emergency. This is necessary because dentists are treating patients with potent anesthetics and are often doing surgical procedures (removing teeth, gum surgery, biopsies, root canal, etc.). Some patients are also coming to the dentist with a high degree of emotional stress, or in poor general health. All of these factors can increase the risk of a medical emergency in the dental office.

SCA is responsible for about 350,000 deaths each year. Unlike a heart attack where there are usually telling symptoms (chest pain, pain radiating to the left arm, nausea, etc.) and there is often time to get to the hospital for treatment, SCA strikes quickly and usually without warning. SCA is caused by an abnormal heart rhythm (often ventricular fibrillation), which causes the heart to quiver chaotically, unable to deliver the necessary oxygen to the body. Typically, the person loses consciousness in seconds. SCA can happen to anyone, at any age, and at any time, but increasing age and previous heart problems amplify the risk. When SCA occurs, the person will usually die in a few minutes unless the heart can be “shocked” into a normal rhythm by a kirkland dentist. The AED can deliver this lifesaving shock in seconds and is considered preferable to the older defibrillators that were more cumbersome, required more training, and were more expensive. The speed at which the AED is applied is also of critical importance, because every minute that goes by after SCA occurs reduces the likelihood of preserving life by 10%.

Here’s an overview of how the AED works. When a person suffers from SCA, you first call 911, and then quickly get the 4 ½ pound AED and turn it on. From that point on, the device tells you what to do. You put the self-adhesive pads on the person’s bare chest and the AED “reads” the heart rhythm. If the device decides that the person will benefit from a shock, it says, “Shock advised, stay clear of the patient” and you push a button. In the majority of cases, one shock is all it will take to return the person’s heart to a normal rhythm and often help save a life. Finally, you monitor or assist (if necessary) the heartbeat and breathing as you wait for the ambulance to arrive.

AEDs are turning up in many places, including airports, casinos, shopping centers, stadiums, and in offices. An AED can be used by almost anyone, and requires almost no training. With its ease of use, obvious importance, and relatively low cost (less than four thousand dollars), there is little reason not to have one in the dental office. I would urge a kirkland dentist, other health professionals, as well as other business owners to purchase an AED. Remember, the life you save, could be your patient’s, your client’s, or even your own. (For more information on Kirkland dentists, feel free to contact my office.)

Also, some information on fillings: can create in the body and also of the safety procedures required for such removals, which inspires great confidence.