State dentists prepare for bioterrorism attack

Michelle Swafford

Monday, Feb. 9, 2004 | 11:17 a.m.

More than 1,000 Nevada dentists and 1,200 dental hygienists are getting ready to help the public should there be a bioterrorism attack.

They won't be looking for biochemicals in their patients' mouths, but rather will assist physicians and emergency response crews at the scene of a disaster.

A Nevada law that takes effect in June 2005 requires all dentists and dental hygienists to have four continuing-education credits in bioterrorism training. It is the first such law in the nation.

More than 400 dental professionals were trained in Las Vegas as the program kicked off over the weekend during the Nevada Dental Association's winter conference. The training is paid for by the dental professionals and costs between $50 and $100.

Dr. Dwyte Brooks, a Las Vegas dentist and president of the Nevada Dental Association, said although dentists were shocked that the Legislature passed such a law, most Nevada dentists are happy to do whatever they can to help.

"This is not a big requirement and it really fits in well with our general training for emergencies," Brooks said. "At some point, we would have brought (bioterrorism training) to Nevada anyway. This just gave us the impetus to do it now."

Dentists can triage patients, a process in which patients are assessed and given priority based on the severity of their medical situations. In addition, dental professionals can administer vaccines, provide anesthesia and close wounds, Brooks said.

"If you've got a big enough disaster, you need every able-bodied person with medical training to assist," Brooks said. "How fast you get people vaccinated will affect how many fatalities will be involved, how sick people will get."

Brooks has already aided emergency medical crews in Las Vegas disasters. After the 1981 fire at the Las Vegas Hilton, Brooks assisted with his Air Force Dental Corps credentials and a portable oxygen tank to help patients with smoke inhalation.

Dr. Albert Guay, chief policy adviser for the American Dental Association and a bioterrorism trainer, said dentists have been helping with disasters for years. For example, in 1995 dentists helped identify victims of the Oklahoma City bombing.

He said the difference between bombings and bioterrorism is that bioterrorism victims will likely still have their wallets and purses won't need to be identified as much as they will need to be vaccinated and treated.

Dentists can "free up physicians to do what only physicians can do," Guay said.

Guay said President Bush urged the ADA to get involved about a year ago as part of the U.S. homeland security initiative, so the ADA launched a training program.

Nevada dental professionals who participated in the bioterrorism training learned the symptoms of -- and treatments for -- exposure to radiation and other chemicals and how they could help in a bioterrorism attack.

He said the Nevada law didn't surprise him, but how quickly it passed did.

"The Nevada law is the first in the country and it's forward-looking," Guay said. "We applaud them for that."