Most Common Dental Emergency — MFDS Part 1 MCQ

Correct answer: C — Vasovagal syncope

Vasovagal syncope is the medical emergency encountered most frequently in general dental practice. It is commonly precipitated by dental anxiety, pain, needles or other emotional stimuli and may be preceded by pallor, sweating, nausea and light-headedness. British practice data found syncope to be substantially more frequent than other medical emergencies. Anaphylaxis, myocardial infarction, epileptic seizures and adrenal crisis are all important emergencies for which the dental team must be prepared, but each occurs much less often. The most appropriate answer is therefore A.

Reference: Girdler NM and Smith DG. Prevalence of emergency events in British dental practice and emergency management skills of British dentists. British Dental Journal, 1999. https://sps.nhs.uk/articles/managing-reactions-to-dental-local-anaesthetic-injections/