DHYG 210 Pharmacology and Pain Management
This course will discuss the impact of pharmaceutical drugs as related to the clinical practice of dental hygiene. Students will learn the therapeutic uses, adverse effects, and impact of pharmaceutical drugs. Topics will include absorption, distribution, metabolism, interactions, and drug action in the body. Anesthetics and pain management will be reviewed.
Hours Weekly
2 hours theory weekly
Course Objectives
- 1. Examine the role of the dental hygienist and demonstrate the interview process when
questioning patients about their medical history. - 2. Construct drug cards using a patient’s medical history form.
- 3. Analyze the mechanism of action of drugs, absorption, and metabolism.
- 4. Examine the biochemical and physiologic actions of drugs.
- 5. Describe the metabolic effects of a drug after being delivered to body cells.
- 6. Define pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics.
- 7. Describe autonomic drugs, adverse drugs, and their effects.
- 8. Describe pain management procedures, local and general anesthetic agents, mechanism
of action, stages of anesthesia, and topical agents. - 9. List and describe drugs that are used in the provision of oral health care.
- 10. Describe opioids and non-opioids and determine the difference of each category.
- 11. Interpret the uses for antifungal, antiviral, antimicrobial, and antibacterial drugs.
- 12. Interpret the uses of pharmacologic agents/drugs in the management of selected oral
conditions. - 13. Discuss categories of drugs used to control systemic disorders and the effects of the
medications and relation to dentistry. - 14. Discuss the relationship and effects of drugs used by special populations such as women,
cancer patients, substance abusers, and those with joint disorders.
Course Objectives
- 1. Examine the role of the dental hygienist and demonstrate the interview process when
questioning patients about their medical history. - 2. Construct drug cards using a patient’s medical history form.
- 3. Analyze the mechanism of action of drugs, absorption, and metabolism.
- 4. Examine the biochemical and physiologic actions of drugs.
- 5. Describe the metabolic effects of a drug after being delivered to body cells.
- 6. Define pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics.
- 7. Describe autonomic drugs, adverse drugs, and their effects.
- 8. Describe pain management procedures, local and general anesthetic agents, mechanism
of action, stages of anesthesia, and topical agents. - 9. List and describe drugs that are used in the provision of oral health care.
- 10. Describe opioids and non-opioids and determine the difference of each category.
- 11. Interpret the uses for antifungal, antiviral, antimicrobial, and antibacterial drugs.
- 12. Interpret the uses of pharmacologic agents/drugs in the management of selected oral
conditions. - 13. Discuss categories of drugs used to control systemic disorders and the effects of the
medications and relation to dentistry. - 14. Discuss the relationship and effects of drugs used by special populations such as women,
cancer patients, substance abusers, and those with joint disorders.