Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

When using a bag-mask device for an apneic patient with dentures, what should you do?

1. Remove the dentures completely before ventilation

2. Periodically reassess the airway to ensure the dentures are not loose

3. Ventilate without worrying about the dentures

4. Secure the dentures with tape

The correct answer is: Periodically reassess the airway to ensure the dentures are not loose

Using a bag-mask device for an apneic patient with dentures requires careful consideration of how the presence of dentures could affect ventilation. Periodically reassessing the airway to ensure that the dentures are not loose is critical because loose dentures can obstruct the airway or create an inadequate seal for effective ventilation. Maintaining a proper airway is essential, and loose dentures could interfere with the placement of the mask. If the dentures become dislodged during the ventilation process, they can either obstruct the airway or prevent the bag-mask from forming an adequate seal, reducing the efficacy of your ventilations. Therefore, regularly checking the condition of the dentures while ventilating allows the provider to address any issues that arise, ensuring that the patient receives effective positive pressure ventilation. Removing dentures completely might not be necessary unless they are causing a significant obstruction, and taping them down could also be impractical and unnecessary. Ventilating without concern for the dentures could lead to complications, such as ineffective ventilations or airway obstruction. Regular airway assessment is therefore the best practice in this scenario.