João Braga
Role of the dental assistant in preventing and resolving medical emergencies in the dental office
- Dentist licensed by FMDUP and registered with OMD under number 1146.
- Professor of Oral Surgery at FMDUP.
- Specialist in Oral Surgery by OMD.
- Information Access Officer at FMDUP.
- Clinical Director of Regiclínica – Dental Medicine Clinic, Lda. in Braga.
- Former Secretary General of the Portuguese Dental Association (2001 to 2010).
Nationality: Portugal
Scientific areas: Dental assistant course
8 of november, from 17h30 until 19h00
Auditorium B
Conference summary
Medical emergencies in dental clinics, although relatively rare, are potentially critical events that require a rapid and coordinated response from the clinical team. Among the professionals present, the dental assistant plays a fundamental role in the prevention and initial resolution of these situations.
In this conference, we will review and systematize the main skills, responsibilities and protocols associated with the role of the dental assistant in the face of medical emergencies in the office.
In terms of prevention, the dental assistant must help in the continuous monitoring of the patient’s condition, identify early signs of instability (such as paleness, cold sweats, altered consciousness), and ensure that emergency equipment (emergency kit, oxygen, automated external defibrillator – AED) is accessible, functional and within the validity period.
In addition, their training must include knowledge of basic life support (BLS) and handling of safety devices.
During an emergency, the dental assistant must remain calm, communicate clearly with the dentist and the rest of the team, activate internal protocols and contact the emergency medical service (112 in Portugal), if necessary. At the same time, the dental assistant can assist in positioning the patient, prepare and administer oxygen under supervision, and record events chronologically.
Their ongoing training and participation in emergency simulations are essential to maintain response readiness.
Studies indicate that clinics with well-defined emergency protocols and trained teams have better clinical outcomes and lower complication rates. The active integration of the dental assistant in response plans reinforces patient safety and the efficiency of the oral health team.
It is concluded that the role of the dental assistant is crucial in addressing medical emergencies in the office, not only as support, but as an active agent in prevention, early detection and initial response.
Valuing their technical training and their integration into contingency plans is an essential strategy for improving the quality of care provided and patient safety.