Chabot College
Fall 2008
Course Outline for Dental Hygiene 54
PHARMACOLOGY
Catalog Description:
54 - Pharmacology
2 units
Sources, dosages, therapeutic action, and side effects of drugs used in dentistry and dental hygiene.
Includes legal and ethical aspects of drug usage. Corequisite: Dental Hygiene 57. 2 hours.
[Typical contact hours: 35]
Prerequisite Skills:
None
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1.
differentiate between chemical names, generic names, and trade names of drugs;
2.
define the terms: pharmacotherapeutics, pharmacodynamics, and toxicology;
3.
differentiate between the terms: potency vs. efficacy; ED vs. LD; onset of action vs.
duration of action;
4.
describe the major distribution areas and routes of drugs in the body, including the factors
affecting this distribution;
5.
identify drugs (and drug products) actively prescribed and/or employed in dental and dental
hygiene practice:
a.
describe their pharmacologic and therapeutic effects including mechanism of action
and adverse effects;
b.
describe their administration and distribution in the body;
c.
list and describe their main clinical uses and side-effects, including dosage ranges
and precautions for use;
d.
classify and list commonly-used preparations (of the drugs) including generic names
and trade names;
e.
compare and contrast the use and efficacy of similar drugs within a pharmacologic
class including their advantages and disadvantages, in clinical use;
6.
describe how drugs (and drug products) not normally utilized in dental and dental hygiene
practice, but capable of presenting a potential dental practice problem when prescribed
medically, will modify a patient's functions and how these modifications require proper
handling of the patient in clinical practice:
a.
describe the pharmacological action and generic therapeutic use of these drugs with
special emphasis on those self-effects and adverse reactions that affect clinical
practice;
b.
describe the major interactions of these drugs and procedures employed and
prescribed in clinical practice;
c.
list and describe clinical precautions to be employed when these drugs are being
used medically by the patient.
7.
indicate the indications and contraindications for use of medications by pregnant and /or
lactating females;
8.
describe the drug interactions that occur when the drug(s) are taken by a pregnant and/or
lactating female
9.
indicate the signs and symptoms of drug abuse and the treatment modalities for dealing with
the drug addicted patient.
Chabot College
Course Outline for Dental Hygiene 54, page 2
Fall 2008
Expected Outcomes for Students (continued):
Note: The drugs referred to in #5 and #6, above, belong to the classes described below in course
content.
Course Content:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
General principles of pharmacology; untoward reactions
Drugs affecting the autonomic nervous system
CNS Depressants: psychotherapeutic agents, anti-psychotic anti-anxiety and antidepressants
Anticonvulsant and CNS stimulants
Analgesics-narcotic and non-narcotic
General anesthesia and local anesthesia
Adrenocorticosteroids and other hormones
Chemotherapeutics-antibiotics
Chemotherapeutics-antifungal and antiviral drugs
Cardiovascular drugs
Respiratory and gastrointestinal drugs
Autocoids and antihistamines
Antineoplastic drugs
Pregnancy and breast feeding
Drug abuse
Methods of Presentation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Lecture
Discussion
Audiovisual aids
a.
charts
b.
white board
c.
handouts
Case studies
Assignments & Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1.
2.
Typical Assignments
a.
Utilize current drug guide to define the mode of action, dosage,
indications/contraindications and dental considerations for a commonly-prescribed
drug.
b.
Using a clinical patient write a case study using the drugs that the patient is currently
taking. Develop test questions that could be used to test your classmates' knowledge
of the affects of the drug on the patient and/or the patient's treatment plan.
Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
a.
Quizzes
b.
Midterm examination
c.
Final examination
Chabot College
Course Outline for Dental Hygiene 54, page 3
Fall 2008
Textbook(s) (Typical):
Applied Pharmacology for the Dental Hygienist, Haveles, Bablenis Elena C.V. Mosby, 5th Edition,
2007
Special Student Materials:
Removable storage media such as USB flash drive or diskette.