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An aging population, a more medically complex patient base and concerns about infectious diseases have complicated dentistry in the past decade--making a thorough health history more important than ever. A survey comparing dental university health history forms with those used by some general practitioners is presented.

Emergency preparedness questionnaires were mailed to 4,905 dentists in Florida and 1,600 dentists in Kentucky. A total of 1,605 questionnaires were returned. Of the respondents, 52% reported being certified currently as providers of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Dentists reported that they used their skills in cardiopulmonary resuscitation more than 900 times during a 10-year period. More than a third of the life-threatening situations occurred in dental offices.

A total of 6,505 questionnaires were mailed to practicing dentists in Florida and Kentucky. The dentists represented all dental specialties and had been graduated from 72 different dental schools. The results of the survey indicate that improvement is needed in training, office organization, and advanced preparation for the emergency management of patients. The results also indicate that dentists encounter many medical emergencies in their offices.