DEH 2502 Pharmacology in the Dental Practice

Overview of the conventional drug classes with emphasis on the actions, effects and indications for those used in the dental practice.

Prerequisites: DEH 2402 and DEH 2403 and Restricted to Majors

Course Outcomes

• Describe the physiologic effects of nitrous oxide sedation and discuss the potential adverse effects related to chronic nitrous oxide exposure.
• Compare and contrast the actions and effects of the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system and interpret the anticipated effects of selected autonomic agents.
• Compare the mechanism of action of selected analgesic and antiinflammatory agents and construct a formula for their use in the practice of dentistry.
• Differentiate the various classes of antimicrobial agents in terms of mechanism of action, spectrum, potential toxicity and known drug interactions.
• Summarize the actions of thyroid, parathyroid, pancreatic and ovarian hormones and relate the systemic effects of selected pharmacologic agents used in the treatment of endocrine disease.
• Compare the mechanism of action of selected sedative and psychotropic agents and evaluate the safety and general side-effect profiles of these groups.
• Describe the basic types of obstructive pulmonary disease and inflammatory gastro-intestinal diseases and discuss the actions of the medications used in the treatment of each.
• Describe the physiology of the peripheral nervous system and summarize the pharmacology of local anesthetic preparations and the manner in which they alter the physiologic responses of neural tissues.
• Illustrate the mechanism of action of selected cardiovascular agents in the treatment therapy of congestive heart failure, hypertension, coronary artery disease and cardiac dysrhythmias.
• Differentiate the basic principles of pharmacokinetics from those of pharmacodynamics and illustrate the effects of these principles on the absorption, bioavailability and metabolism of a given drug.

Credit Hours: 2

• Classroom: 2 hours

• Division: Health Sciences
• Department: Dental Health Sciences

• Repeatable Credit: No
• Offered Online: No