Small in question count, disproportionate in consequence. You are expected to recognise the common emergencies from their presenting signs, know what is in the emergency kit and what it is for, and know your own role while help is coming.
What medical emergencies covers in the Knowledge Test
- Recognising anaphylaxis, hypoglycaemia, angina, MI, asthma, seizure, syncope and choking
- The emergency drugs kit and the indication for each item
- Basic life support and safe AED use
- When and how to escalate
- Post-event recording
Where candidates lose marks
Confusing hypoglycaemia with hyperglycaemia. Onset speed and presentation differ, and so does the treatment.
Continuing compressions during AED rhythm analysis.
Delaying the call for help while assessing.
The drugs, and what each one is for
The emergency drugs kept in a dental practice are a small, fixed list, and the Knowledge Test expects you to know which one answers which emergency. A common exam trap is pairing the right drug with the wrong route — adrenaline for anaphylaxis is intramuscular, not intravenous, and midazolam for a seizure is buccal, not swallowed.
| Emergency | Drug | Strength | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anaphylaxis | Adrenaline | 1:1000 (1 mg/mL) | Intramuscular |
| Hypoglycaemia (unconscious) | Glucagon | 1 mg | Intramuscular |
| Hypoglycaemia (conscious) | Oral glucose | — | Oral |
| Prolonged seizure | Midazolam | 10 mg/mL oromucosal | Buccal |
| Angina | Glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) | 400 micrograms/dose | Sublingual spray |
| Suspected MI | Aspirin | 300 mg dispersible | Oral, chewed |
| Asthma attack | Salbutamol | 100 micrograms/actuation | Inhaled |
| Most emergencies | Oxygen | — | Inhaled |
Equipment, and a distinction people get wrong
The Resuscitation Council UK publishes an equipment list for primary dental care, and it is worth knowing that this list covers cardiorespiratory arrest only — the drugs above come from the BNF, not from it. Candidates who assume one document covers both tend to lose the question that separates them.
- 01Pocket mask with oxygen port
- 02Portable suction, e.g. a Yankauer
- 03Oropharyngeal airways, sizes 0 to 4
- 04Self-inflating bag with reservoir, adult and child
- 05Clear face masks, sizes 0 to 4
- 06Oxygen cylinder, tubing and masks with reservoir
- 07Automated external defibrillator, with a spare set of pads
- 08Razor and scissors, for pad placement
Telling the emergencies apart
Most questions describe a patient and ask what is happening. The distinguishing features matter more than the definitions.
| Emergency | What points to it |
|---|---|
| Syncope | Pale, clammy, slow pulse; recovers when laid flat with legs raised |
| Hypoglycaemia | Rapid onset, sweating, trembling, confusion, aggression |
| Hyperglycaemia | Slow onset, thirst, frequent urination, drowsiness, fruity breath |
| Anaphylaxis | Swelling, rash, wheeze, hypotension — and it worsens fast |
| Angina | Chest pain relieved by rest and GTN |
| Myocardial infarction | Chest pain not relieved by GTN, often with sweating and nausea |
| Stroke | FAST — Face, Arms, Speech, Time to call 999 |
| Asthma | Wheeze, difficulty speaking in full sentences |
Checks and training
The Resuscitation Council UK expects resuscitation knowledge and skills to be updated at least annually, an AED to be immediately available in clinical areas, and equipment to be checked at least weekly. Drugs are checked on the same weekly cycle and must be in date and stored somewhere labelled and accessible.
Worked examples
Real questions from our bank, with the reasoning. No sign-in needed.
A patient becomes drowsy, very thirsty and reports frequent urination over the last day. Their breath smells fruity. What is most likely?
- AHypoglycaemia
- BHyperglycaemia requiring urgent medical assessmentCorrect
- CA mild asthma attack
- DVasovagal syncope
Why: Thirst, polyuria, drowsiness and a fruity smell point to significant hyperglycaemia or ketoacidosis. Hypoglycaemia has a much faster onset with sweating and tremor.
A patient with chest pain becomes unresponsive and stops breathing normally. What changes?
- AGive another GTN spray and reassess
- BSit them upright for comfort
- CStart CPR and use the AEDCorrect
- DWait for the ambulance before intervening
Why: Unresponsive plus abnormal breathing indicates likely cardiac arrest. GTN is no longer relevant and nothing is gained by waiting.
Both free mocks draw from this topic in the same proportion as the real paper — 65 questions in 90 minutes, with an explanation for every answer and a per-topic breakdown at the end.
Start a free mock examMedical emergencies questions, answered
What emergency drugs must a dental practice have?
Adrenaline 1:1000, glucagon 1 mg, oral glucose, buccal midazolam, GTN spray 400 micrograms, dispersible aspirin 300 mg, a salbutamol inhaler and oxygen. The drug list comes from the BNF's dental practitioners' formulary; the Resuscitation Council UK list covers equipment for cardiorespiratory arrest rather than drugs.
How often should dental staff update resuscitation training?
At least annually, according to the Resuscitation Council UK's quality standards for primary dental care. Practices are also expected to run simulation-based scenarios and to keep a record of staff training.
How do I tell hypoglycaemia from hyperglycaemia in an exam question?
Speed and symptoms. Hypoglycaemia comes on quickly with sweating, trembling, confusion or aggression. Hyperglycaemia develops over hours or days with thirst, frequent urination, drowsiness and sometimes a fruity smell on the breath. The treatments are opposite, so the distinction carries the mark.
Should chest compressions continue while an AED analyses the rhythm?
No. Movement interferes with rhythm analysis, so compressions pause when the AED instructs and resume immediately afterwards. This is a frequently examined detail.
What is the dental nurse's role in a medical emergency?
Recognise it, summon help, bring the emergency kit and AED, assist with basic life support as directed, and record what happened and when. You are not expected to diagnose, but you are expected to act without waiting to be told.
The other nine topics
Independent study material, not affiliated with or endorsed by NEBDN. Always check the official NEBDN website for the current syllabus. NEBDN does not publish a pass mark for the Knowledge Test.