← All Courses
Case No. 02 The House of Hygiene · Interactive Case

The Syncope
Emergency

Recognizing and Managing the Faint in the Operatory

Medical Emergencies Professional Development · Self-Study ~35–45 Minutes Interactive Case
Course information & CE accreditation details →
← Back

Course Information · CE Accreditation

Case No. 02 · The Syncope Emergency

Course title
Case No. 02 · The Syncope Emergency
Description
Recognition and management of vasovagal syncope in the dental operatory.
Provider
The House of Hygiene
AGD PACE Provider ID
Pending — national AGD PACE application in progress
Instructor
Belinda Marsh, RDH — BS in Dental Hygiene, Idaho State University (2022); practicing clinical dental hygienist
Educational method
Self-instruction · web-based, interactive
Intended audience
Dental hygienists and dental team members
Prerequisites
None
CE credit (pending)
1 CE hour
AGD subject code
142 — Medical Emergency Training and CPR
Cost
Complimentary
Release date
July 1, 2026
Last reviewed
June 2026
Expiration date
June 30, 2029 (reviewed at least every 3 years)

Learning objectives

Upon completion, the participant will be able to:

  1. Recognize the prodromal signs and symptoms of vasovagal syncope, including atypical presentations.
  2. Identify common triggers and risk factors: anxiety, fasting, pain, the sight of a needle, upright positioning, and a warm room.
  3. Sequence the immediate management of a syncopal episode: stop, position supine with legs elevated, open the airway, deliver oxygen, call for help, and monitor.
  4. Differentiate simple vasovagal syncope from orthostatic hypotension, hypoglycemia, seizure, and cardiac causes, and state when to activate EMS.
  5. Apply prevention and documentation strategies within RDH scope, including positioning, screening, post-event charting, and a plan for the next visit.

Commercial independence & conflict of interest

Belinda Marsh, RDH, the sole instructor and content author, has no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest to disclose. This course was developed independently, is free of commercial bias, and is not sponsored or influenced by any commercial entity. The provider retains full control of content, scientific integrity, and faculty selection.

References & resources for further study

This course cites current peer-reviewed literature and clinical guidelines throughout, and provides a consolidated reference/evidence-base section within the course for further study. All clinical content is reviewed for scientific accuracy and currency at least every three years.

Participant support & mastery

Ask the author / participant interaction: Questions about course content may be sent to bbomarsh@gmail.com; we respond within two business days.
Technical assistance: bbomarsh@gmail.com.
Mastery & credit: Completion requires viewing the full course and passing the end-of-course assessment. CE credit reflects the estimated time to complete the instructional content and does not include time spent on the assessment.
Refund / cancellation: This course is complimentary; see theRefund & Cancellation Policy. Attendance records are retained for seven years.

Course evaluation

The House of Hygiene is a self-instruction continuing dental education provider. AGD PACE national approval is pending; this course does not yet award AGD-recognized CE credit and makes no claim of accreditation. Statement and credit details will be finalized on approval.

Recare Patient · Today's 7:45 am
D
Dale Brandt
Construction Foreman · Age 52
Chief ComplaintScheduled for scaling and root planing, lower right quadrant
ArrivalCame straight from the job site, early morning Note
Medical HxNo significant findings reported; not on regular medications
PresentationLarge build, heavily tattooed forearms and neck, easygoing and joking
Today's PlanSRP with local anesthetic (lower right)
Learning Objectives
  • 01Recognize the prodromal signs and symptoms of vasovagal syncope, including atypical presentations
  • 02Identify common triggers and risk factors: anxiety, fasting, pain, the sight of a needle, upright positioning, and a warm room
  • 03Sequence the immediate management of a syncopal episode: stop, position supine with legs elevated, open the airway, deliver oxygen, call for help, and monitor
  • 04Differentiate simple vasovagal syncope from orthostatic hypotension, hypoglycemia, seizure, and cardiac causes, and state when to activate EMS
  • 05Apply prevention and documentation strategies within RDH scope, including positioning, screening, post-event charting, and a plan for the next visit

Dale is friendly and relaxed, the last patient you would peg as a fainting risk. That assumption is exactly the trap. Syncope is the most common medical emergency in the dental office, and appearance does not predict who faints.

Calm
Stability
Scene 1 of 5
Operatory
D
Dale Brandt
relaxed, joking
☕ Fasting flagged
⚠ Prodrome cluster
✓ Supine + legs up
What do you do?
Learning Moment
Knowledge Check · Scene 1 Question 1 of 5
Final Assessment Question 1 of 8
Assessment Passed
—
—

Get your certificate of completion.

Enter your name and email and we will send a certificate of completion for your records.

Please note: This is a self-study educational activity. It is not accredited and does not award CE credit. The certificate documents that you completed the case for your own records.
Required for CE: complete the short course evaluation to finish and receive your certificate.
Complete evaluation →
📝 Leave a Course Evaluation ← Back to all courses
References & Evidence Base

Superscript numbers throughout the course correspond to the sources below. Clinical statements are grounded in peer-reviewed literature, recognized emergency-management texts, and current guidance. Last reviewed: June 2026.

  1. Hutse I, Coppens M, Herbelet S, Seyssens L, Marks L. Syncope in dental practices: a systematic review on aetiology and management. J Evid Based Dent Pract. 2021;21(3):101581. doi:10.1016/j.jebdp.2021.101581. Most common dental emergency · supine + legs + oxygen
  2. Malamed SF. Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office. 8th ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022. ~50.3% of office emergencies · prodrome · management sequence
  3. Reed KL. Basic management of medical emergencies: recognizing a patient's distress. J Am Dent Assoc. 2010;141(Suppl 1):20S–24S. Prodrome recognition · risk factors · positioning
  4. Donaldson M, Goodchild JH. Is it time to omit ammonia inhalants from dental emergency kits? Gen Dent. 2022;70(4):6–9. Ammonia inhalants not in current guidelines
  5. Crest + Oral-B / dentalcare.com. Syncope. In: Managing Adult Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office (Course CE516). 2022. Adrenergic/cholinergic signs · do not place liquids in an unconscious mouth
  6. American Heart Association. 2020 Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care: Basic Life Support. Circulation. 2020;142(16_suppl_2). Airway management · recovery position · escalation to CPR

This activity is for professional education only. It is not a substitute for your office emergency protocol, BLS certification, or the clinical judgment of the supervising dentist. Always follow your state practice act and your office's written emergency plan.