This document summarizes information about epilepsy and seizure management for dental emergencies. It describes the types of seizures as generalized seizures including tonic-clonic and atonic seizures, and partial seizures. It lists common medications used to stop seizures such as diazepam, phenytoin, and phenobarbital. It provides guidance for managing patients during and after seizures, including preventing injury, ensuring an unobstructed airway, and securing the dental chair if a seizure occurs during a procedure.

1. D E N TAL E M E R G E N C Y M AN A G E M E N T
EPILEPSY

2. EPILEPSY
● Disorders of brain function characterized by
recurring seizures.
 Electrical disturbance in one section of nerve cells
causing uncontrolled electrical discharges.

3. How Epilepsy is diagnosed..
● History
● Physical Exam
● Electroencephalogram
● MRI (Neuro-imaging)
● CT Scan

4. TYPES OF SEIZURES

5. GENERALIZED SEIZURES

6.  The phases of gran-mal seizure are as follows:
POST-ICTAL PHASE
Cessation of tonic-clonic movement
Characterized by exhaustion, headache, drowsiness, deep sleep of 1-2, disorientation
TONIC – CLONIC PHASE
Tonic phase- contraction
Clonic phase – jerking movements
Accompanied by dyspnea, drooling of saliva, urinary continence
AURA
(flashing light, smells, spots before eyes,dizziness)

8.  Atonic seizures produce an abrupt loss of muscle
tone.
 Other names for this type of seizure include drop
attacks, astatic or akinetic seizures.
 They produce head drops, loss of posture, or sudden
collapse.

9. PARTIAL SEIZURES

10. MEDICATIONS
● Diazepam (Valium) this will stop motor movement
● Phenytoin (Dilatin)
● Phenobarbital (Barbita)
● Paraldehyde
● Thiopentahl sodium (Pentotal sodium)
● General anesthesia may also be used as a
treatment of last resort to stop seizure activity

11. Managing the patient
 Injury prevention for the patient with seizure is a
PRIORITY.
 Stay calm
 Keep person safe, remove dangerous objects
 Patient should be placed on the floor and remove
any obstructive items
 Patient should never be forced into a position
 Pad side rails
 Do not attempt to pry open jaws that are clenched
in a spasm to insert anything.
 If possible place the patient on one side with head
flexed forward

13. Seizure in a dental chair
 Do not remove the person from the dental chair
unless absolutely necessary
 Secure dentalchair to prevent the person from falling
 Protect and support head
 Ensure breathing is unobstructed and allow
secretions to flow from mouth
 Pad dentalchair to prevent injuries to limbs

17. VIDEO