DENH 175 Dental Pharmacology*

This Course will provide the dental hygiene student with the necessary knowledge of pharmacology to assess for medical illnesses, adverse reactions and drug interactions that may interfere with dental treatments and oral health care. It is not intended that the dental hygienist take the place of the dentist in proving the patient with information about medication, but to work with dentist in providing appropriate care to the patient. Topics include drug actions and interactions autonomic pharmacology, local and general anesthetics, antimicrobial medications, non-narcotic and analgesics, fluorides of medical disorders, infectious disease pharmacology, antineoplastic drugs, drug use during pregnancy and lactation and substance abuse. Competence of these topics and the relationship of drugs to the practice of dentistry will be evaluated.

Credits

3 Credits

DENH 175Dental Pharmacology*

Please note: This is not a course syllabus. A course syllabus is unique to a particular section of a course by instructor. This curriculum guide provides general information about a course.

I. General Information

Department

II. Course Specification

Credit Hours Narrative

3 Credits

III. Catalog Course Description

This Course will provide the dental hygiene student with the necessary knowledge of pharmacology to assess for medical illnesses, adverse reactions and drug interactions that may interfere with dental treatments and oral health care. It is not intended that the dental hygienist take the place of the dentist in proving the patient with information about medication, but to work with dentist in providing appropriate care to the patient. Topics include drug actions and interactions autonomic pharmacology, local and general anesthetics, antimicrobial medications, non-narcotic and analgesics, fluorides of medical disorders, infectious disease pharmacology, antineoplastic drugs, drug use during pregnancy and lactation and substance abuse. Competence of these topics and the relationship of drugs to the practice of dentistry will be evaluated.

IV. Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, a student will be able to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge and significant information on treating emergency situations, women who are pregnant, patients with substance abuse issues and those patients self-treating with herbal remedies or supplements
  • Discuss and familiarize the student with sources for updated and detailed drug information
  • Define pharmacology and describe the need of the dental hygienist to understand basic pharmacology
  • Understand the different parts of a prescription and terminology used
  • Identify the general principles of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, drug action and handling, adverse reactions
  • Memorize many of the drugs used in dentistry including the pharmacology of non-opioid analgesics, opioid analgesics, anti-infective agents, antibiotics, nitrous oxide, and vitamins and minerals
  • Understand medical conditions that patients may present with and state how the disease affects their oral health care. Understand how the patient medication affects oral health care and specific dental hygiene considerations

V. Topical Outline (Course Content)

VI. Delivery Methodologies