Common medical emergencies: a dilemma in dental education

A four-week hospital-based program offers a comprehensive course for dental students in the evaluation and management of medical emergencies. The program first emphasizes medical evaluation with the taking of accurate, comprehensive patient histories and the performance of physical examinations; information about supportive care, including intravenous techniques and airway maintenance, is given. The diagnostic signs and treatment of common medical emergencies, as taught in the program, are described.