For many patients, a trip to the dental office can seem fairly routine and ordinary. However, there are several risks that patients may experience based on their unique medical history, and the entire dental team must be prepared to step up and support each patient’s needs when an issue arises. One thing that might happen is a patient could experience a fainting episode, and as a dental assistant, it’s crucial that you know exactly how to handle these situations. Here’s a helpful breakdown of some possible triggers and solutions.

Why Might a Dental Patient Faint?

One of the more common medical emergencies in a dental office is what’s known as vasovagal syncope, which simply means fainting. Fainting can occur for a variety of reasons in the dentist’s office, but the most common reasons revolve around dental-related fear or anxiety. Additional triggers often include but aren’t limited to:

• The sight of blood (depending on the procedure, there may be some visible blood)
• The sight of the needle used for anesthesia
• The sting of the dental injection (though minor, it can trigger certain patients)
• The smell of the dental office (there are sometimes many different chemicals and odors in a typical operatory)
• The sounds of various dental tools and instruments

How Should the Situation Be Handled?

Regardless of which trigger comes into play, every staff member is responsible for assisting with the care of the patient. However, since dental assistants end up spending quite a lot of time with patients, there’s a good chance that they might often be directly involved with fainting patients. 

It’s also worth noting that managing fainting patients begins with preventing fainting from occurring in the first place. Clear communication and close observation are both large parts of this – patients who are getting sweaty or visibly nervous, mention being lightheaded, or aren’t speaking clearly could be demonstrating signs that they’re about to have a fainting episode. Other signs include them mentioning they feel weak or have compromised vision.

Even though other medical conditions can induce similar symptoms, it’s best to be prepared in either case. You can also reposition the patient into the Trendelenburg position (reclined with their head below their heart and feet) to promote blood flow to the brain, minimizing the risk of a fainting episode. If the dentist isn’t in the room with you, send someone to retrieve them (if you need to do it yourself, first attend to the patient by removing possible triggers and safely repositioning them).

If a patient does experience a fainting episode, do not panic; although it might seem scary, fainting episodes typically do not have any long-term adverse effects. While they normally don’t require any further medical attention (unless someone falls), the situation does require careful monitoring until the patient is well enough to continue the procedure or return home.

About the NE Dental Academy

Here at the NE Dental Academy, we’ve helped countless aspiring students in Worcester and the surrounding area throughout the years, giving them the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the world of dental assisting. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with us to request more enrollment information, please visit us online or call us today for assistance! Telephone: (508) 392-5314.