Seizures
Protect from injury, time the event and maintain the airway as able. Escalate prolonged or repeated seizures under local protocols.
Understand
Most brief seizures stop spontaneously, but prolonged or repeated events need urgent intervention. Injury and airway obstruction are immediate concerns.
Assess
Time the event, protect the patient from hazards and observe breathing and recovery. Ask about known epilepsy, diabetes or new neurological symptoms.
Apply
Do not restrain or put objects in the mouth. Use local emergency guidance for prolonged seizures and seek urgent help if recovery is incomplete or this is a first event.
Key distinctions
During a seizure, prevent injury and note time and features; do not restrain the patient or place anything in the mouth. Recovery position and airway monitoring follow the event as appropriate. A prolonged seizure, repeat seizure without recovery, first presentation or injury changes the need for urgent medical help. A dental team should know its local threshold and emergency medicine protocol.
Think through a case
A convulsion lasts several minutes. Protect from injury, time it, monitor airway and use the local emergency pathway if it persists.
The distinction to remember
Do not restrain the patient or put a finger, instrument or object between the teeth.
Test your recall
Should an object be placed in the mouth during a seizure?
Show answer
No.