DentAIstudy
ADEX exam

ADEX Emergency Drug Kit – Items, Uses & Exam Essentials

A quick, high-yield guide to the essential emergency medications and equipment ADEX expects you to know.

Quick Answers

What emergencies does ADEX focus on?

Syncope, anaphylaxis, asthma attack, hypoglycemia, angina, cardiac arrest, and seizures.

What drugs MUST be in the dental emergency kit?

Oxygen, epinephrine, nitroglycerin, albuterol, glucose source, aspirin, and diphenhydramine.

What is the most critical drug for anaphylaxis?

IM epinephrine – first line, immediate administration.

What is the first step in most emergencies?

Stop treatment, position the patient safely, and assess airway, breathing, and circulation.

What errors lose marks?

Choosing the wrong drug, delaying oxygen or epinephrine, and forgetting basic life support steps.

1. What ADEX wants you to know

The emergency drug kit section is not testing complex medicine. ADEX wants to see if you know which drug treats which condition and if you can list the first safe action.

Questions are short and meant to test recognition, not advanced pharmacology.

2. Core emergency drugs you must memorise

These medications appear repeatedly in ADEX-style questions:

• Oxygen

Used for almost every emergency except hyperventilation.

• Epinephrine (IM)

First-line for anaphylaxis. Delays in use are a major fail point.

• Nitroglycerin (sublingual)

Used for angina or chest pain due to cardiac ischemia. Avoid if BP is extremely low.

• Albuterol inhaler

For acute asthma attacks or bronchospasm.

• Oral glucose or gel

Used for conscious hypoglycemia. If unconscious, do not give orally.

• Aspirin (chewable)

Given during suspected myocardial infarction unless contraindicated.

• Diphenhydramine

Used for mild allergic reactions or post-epinephrine support in anaphylaxis.

3. Most tested emergency scenarios

ADEX tends to repeat a predictable set of scenarios:

  • Syncope: supine position, legs elevated, oxygen if needed.
  • Anaphylaxis: IM epinephrine immediately, oxygen, EMS activation.
  • Asthma attack: albuterol inhaler, oxygen, monitor breathing.
  • Hypoglycemia: oral glucose if conscious; if unconscious, activate EMS.
  • Angina: nitroglycerin up to three doses, oxygen, EMS if no relief.
  • Seizure: protect airway, prevent injury, no hard objects in mouth.
  • Cardiac arrest: CPR and AED use immediately.

4. Common mistakes candidates make

  • Confusing drug indications (e.g., giving diphenhydramine instead of epinephrine).
  • Failing to position the patient appropriately.
  • Not giving oxygen when clearly required.
  • Overlooking contraindications to nitroglycerin.
  • Delaying activation of emergency services in severe cases.

5. Fast memory points

  • Epinephrine is your first-line anaphylaxis drug.
  • Oxygen is used for most emergencies.
  • Glucose for conscious hypoglycemia.
  • Nitroglycerin for chest pain unless BP is critically low.
  • Think airway and circulation before choosing a drug.

How DentAIstudy helps

With Study Builder, you can generate:

  • Emergency OSCE checklists.
  • Scenario-based drug selection questions.
  • Flashcards for emergency drugs and indications.
  • Short mnemonics for exam-day recall.

Try Study Builder →

References

  • CDCA-WREB-CITA Emergency Preparedness Guidelines.
  • Standard dental office medical emergency protocols.
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) clinical recommendations.