< 2027 Topic Previews / Continuing Education Series

This program is a lecture and participation workshop. AGD participation credit will be available. This program is ideal for the entire dental team. Full staff participation is encouraged.

Medical emergencies occurring in the dental office can be stressful and frightening, not only for the patient, but also the entire dental team. This course is designed for dentists and staff to develop strategies to prevent, identify and respond to medical problems including syncope, allergic problems, cardiovascular abnormalities, diabetes and respiratory distress. Emphasis will be placed on preparing the dental team in advance of a crisis to minimize its potential impact. Although dentists or staff will benefit from attending individually, the greatest gain is achieved when the entire dental team attends together. By doing so, dental teams can develop a coordinated response to a patient's problem. An extensive handout is provided which can later be condensed into a chair-side manual with appropriate protocols to respond to most emergencies.

Successfully managing a medical emergency is significantly different from knowing about medical emergencies. Working individually and in groups, the afternoon portion of the meeting will include a series of exercises to utilize the material presented in the morning lecture.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the medications and emergency equipment every dental office should have available.
• Learn to identify the 11 major medical emergencies likely to occur during dental care.
• Develop a protocol to maintain the patient for at least 30 minutes.
• Practice approaching a medical event in an organized and comprehensive manner.
• Learn how to optimize the use of the staff during a crisis.
• Appreciate the value of well-defined algorithms to guide the dental team through complex medical situations.

About the Speaker

Larry J. Sangrik, DDS

Dr. Larry J. Sangrik is a 1979 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Dentistry. He completed the intravenous sedation program at Miami Valley Hospital of Dayton, Ohio and the comprehensive externship at Midwest Implant Institute. Having volunteered on the Chardon Fire/Rescue Department, he has personally managed most medical crises, from childbirth to open heart massage.

Active in organized dentistry, Dr. Sangrik has long held numerous positions at the local and state levels. He also has served as a consultant to the Ohio State Dental Board on a task force concerning the use of oral sedation.

Since 1999, Dr. Sangrik is a well-known national dental CE lecturer. His lecture topics include preparing for medical emergencies in the dental office, understanding dental fear, use of conscious sedation in dentistry and patient monitoring.

He has been a featured speaker at four American Dental Association Annual Sessions. He has also lectured at the Hinman Dental Meeting of Atlanta, the Greater New York Dental Convention, the Yankee Dental Congress, the Chicago Midwinter Meeting, the Rocky Mountain Dental Convention, the Star of the North Dental Meeting, the Western Regional Dental Convention and five US dental schools. Additionally, he has addressed numerous state or regional dental conventions from Maine to California. Having been named as one of the nation's leaders in dental continuing education for over ten consecutive years, Dr. Sangrik has written for Dentistry Today, Dental Economics and Dental Practice Success on the topics of medical emergencies and dental fear.

In 2018 he published a research paper on behalf of the American Association of Dental Boards assessing patient expectations of dental teams during a medical emergency.

Dr. Sangrik developed and authored a 4-part video and workbook for the American Dental Association on medical emergency preparedness released in January 2019.

Dr. Sangrik limits his dental practice to serving the needs of apprehensive patients with IV sedation. He and his wife live in Chardon and have two adult children.