Any of the following is acted on immediately. EMS is activated first for airway and life threats; provider notification and orders follow.
Red flags — act immediately
Airway-threatening oral or pharyngeal swelling, or angioedema of the lips and tongue → activate EMS (cross-reference Allergic/Immunologic anaphylaxis).
Severe odynophagia with drooling, inability to manage secretions, and fever → deep-space infection or epiglottitis — activate EMS.
Floor-of-mouth swelling with tongue elevation and a severe dental infection → Ludwig’s angina — airway emergency, activate EMS.
An oral lesion not healing over two weeks, or a firm or ulcerated mass → evaluate for malignancy; notify.
Oral bleeding on an anticoagulant → control and apply the Anticoagulation overlay; notify.
A severe dental infection with facial swelling and fever → notify urgently for evaluation and antibiotics.
