Patient fire during dental care
Abstract Background and Overview Fire risk is present whenever there is a convergence of fuel, oxidizer, and an ignition source, which is called the fire triangle . A heightened awareness of fire risk is necessary whenever a fire triangle is present. The authors provide a sentinel event case report...
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Published in | The Journal of the American Dental Association (1939) Vol. 147; no. 8; pp. 661 - 666 |
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Main Authors | , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Elsevier Inc
01.08.2016
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Abstract Background and Overview Fire risk is present whenever there is a convergence of fuel, oxidizer, and an ignition source, which is called the fire triangle . A heightened awareness of fire risk is necessary whenever a fire triangle is present. The authors provide a sentinel event case report of fire in a dental office. Case Description A 72-year-old woman received second-degree facial burns from a fire that ignited near the nasal hood supplying a nitrous oxide–oxygen mixture. The presumed ignition source was heat generated during the preparation of a titanium post with a high-speed, irrigated carbide bur. The patient was transferred to the local emergency department and subsequently discharged after possible pulmonary complications were ruled out. The patient was then transferred to a regional burn unit and was discharged home with second-degree burns. Conclusions and Practical Implications When the source of a fuel cannot be removed from the immediate area, soaked with water, or covered with a water-soluble jelly, the dentist should stop the open flow of oxygen or nitrous oxide–oxygen mixtures to the patient for 1 minute before the use of a potential ignition source, and intraoral suction should be used to clear the ambient atmosphere of oxidizer-enriched exhaled gas. |
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ISSN: | 0002-8177 1943-4723 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.adaj.2016.03.012 |