Chabot College
Fall 2007
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
Prerequisite Skills:
None
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1.
list and compare four drug information reference sources;
2.
differentiate between chemical names, generic names, and trade names of drugs;
3.
define the terms: pharmacotherapeutics, pharmacodynamics, and toxicology;
4.
differentiate between the terms: potency vs. efficacy; ED vs. LD; onset of action vs. duration of
action;
5.
list and describe (including advantages and disadvantages) the eight major routes of administration
of drugs;
6.
describe the major distribution areas and routes of drugs in the body, including the factors affecting
this distribution;
7.
define the terms: summation, additive effects, synergism, and potentiation;
8.
list and describe the three types of drug antagonism;
9.
list and describe the six types of untoward effects of drugs;
10.
identify and describe the five parts of prescription writing;
11.
identify drugs (and drug products) actively prescribed and/or employed in dental and dental hygiene
practice. The student will be able to:
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;
12.
Concerning 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, the student
will be able to describe how these drugs modify a patient's functions and how these modifications
require proper handling of the patient in clinical practice. Specifically, the student will be able to:
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.
Note: The drugs referred to in #11 and #12, above, belong to the classes described below in course content.
Chabot College
Course Outline for Dental Hygiene 54, Page 2
Fall 2007
Course Content:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
General principles of pharmacology; untoward reactions
Drugs affecting the autonomic nervous system
Psychotherapeutic agents, anti-psychotic and anti-depressants
Sedative-hypnotic agents
Anticonvulsant and CNS stimulants
Analgesics-narcotic and non-narcotic
Antihistamines
Adrenocorticosteroids
Drugs affecting the cardiovascular system, including coagulants and anticoagulants
Antibacterial agents (sulfonamides and antibiotics)
Respiratory and gastrointestinal drugs
Hormones and Antineoplastic drugs
Pregnancy and breast feeding drug interactions
Drug abuse
Methods of Presentation:
1.
2.
3.
Lecture
Discussion
Audiovisual aids
a.
charts
b.
chalkboard
c.
handouts
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.
Write a case study for a clinical patient delineating the drugs used, dental considerations and
patient considerations
Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
a.
Quizzes
b.
Midterm examination
c.
Final examination
Textbook(s)(Typical):
Applied Pharmacology for the Dental Hygienist, Requa-Clark, B., C.V. Mosby, 2005 or most recent edition
Special Student Materials:
None
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Revised: 10/13/06