Drugs Used in Dentistry Course

Drugs Used in Dentistry Course is organized by Homestead Schools, Inc.

Course Outline:
• Analgesics
- Pain Control
- Analgesic Agents
- Nonopioid Analgesics
- Aspirin and Related Salicylates
- Aspirin in dentistry
- Adverse effects
- Acetaminophen
- Analgesic Alternatives to Aspirin and Acetaminophen
- Adverse effects
- Opioid Analgesics
- Morphine
- Tolerance and dependence
- Codeine
- Principles of Opioid Analgesic Use
- Adverse Reactions of Opioids
- Combinations of Peripherally Acting Analgesics and Opioids
• Anti-anxiety Drugs
- Benzodiazepines
- Pharmacologic effects
- Adverse reactions
• Autonomic Nervous System Drugs
- Cholinergic Agents
- Anticholinergic Agents
- Neuromuscular Blocking Drugs
- Adrenergic Drugs
- Adverse effects
- Adrenergic Blocking Drugs
• Local Anesthetics
- Anesthetics in Surface Applications
- Benzocaine
- Tetracaine hydrochloride
• Recentry-Approved Dental Drugs
• References
• Post-Test

Learning Objectives:
Analgesics:
• Define pain and provide an understanding of pain management.
• State and dispel three misconceptions about pain.
• List four factors that lower the patient’s pain threshold and two that raise it
• Compare and contrast the nonopioid and opioid analgesics with respect to the following:
 - Site of action
- Mechanism of action
- Efficacy
- Addiction and tolerance
- Toxicity
• List 3 categories of nonopioid analgesics and various drugs within each category.
• State and describe three major effects and four other effects of aspirin.
• Name the therapeutic uses of aspirin.
• Distinguish between psychologic dependence, physical dependence, tolerance and pseudoaddiction.
• Illustrate the stepwise approach for the management of pain as recommended by the World Health Organization.
• Outline the principles of proper analgesic use.
• Discuss 5 adverse reactions of opioids

Autonomic Nervous System Drugs:
• Explain the function of the autonomic nervous system (ANS).
• Describe the action of vasoconstrictors.
• List the duration time of local anesthesia when combined with various concentrations of epinephrine.
• Describe the precautions that a dentist should take with patients taking adrenergic blocking agents.

Anti-anxiety Drugs:
• Describe the pharmacologic effects of benzodiazepines.
• List at least 9 adverse side effects of benzodiazepines.
• Identify 4 categories of anti-anxiety agents and various drugs with their nonproprietary and proprietary names within each category.

Local Anesthetics:
• Describe 3 advantages of vasoconstrictors added to local anesthetic solutions.
• List 3 adverse reactions of local anesthetic agents and 3 precautions to take to avoid them.

Recently-Approved Dental Drugs:
• List 4 new dental drugs approved by the FDA and describe their application in dentistry.