Course Description: This course presents the basic principles of

pharmacology including the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, adverse reactions, and contra-indications of selected drug groups. Emphasis will be placed on those drug groups especially relevant to dental practice including autonomic drugs, analgesics, sedatives, general anesthetics, cardiovascular drugs, antihistamines, analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, local anesthetics, and antiseptics.

Course Objectives: The general goals of this course will be to provide an understanding of:

(1) the laws regulating the use and dispensing of various types of drugs

(2) the mechanisms by which drugs exert their actions

(3) the differences associated with the administration of drugs by various routes

(4) the variations in absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of

different drugs

(5) the factors that determine the dose of the drug used

(6) the types of adverse reactions associated with different drugs and how their

toxicities are evaluated

(7) how to read and write a drug prescription using the common abbreviations

(8) the clinical indications for the therapeutic use of different drugs using their

respective contraindications

(9) how to use a patient history chart to anticipate drug complications and drug

interactions

at least 5 Scan-Trons (#882) and soft lead pencil (no. 1) with a good eraser

Dental Hygienist (3rd ed.); Mosby Pub.; 1995 [ISBN: 0-8151-7233-8]

Linda Skidmore-Roth; Mosby's Nursing Drug Reference; Mosby Pub.

[ISBN: 0-8016-6742-9]

T. Gage & F. Pickett; Mosby's Dental Drug Reference; Mosby Pub.

[ISBN: 0-8151-3408-8]

Physician's Desk Reference; Medical Economics Co.; [ISBN: 0-87489-878-1]

All examinations will consist of objective-type questions (ie., True/False; Multiple Choice; and Matching) and some short-answer questions. You will be expected to provide a SCAN-TRON 882 (available at the bookstore) and a soft lead pencil (no. 1 or no. 2) for each examination for computer scoring.

Roll will be taken. There is a strong correlation between poor attendance and

poor grades. You are responsible for information, exam announcements, date changes, etc. presented in class, whether or not you are present. Students who are absent for 3 consecutive class meetings or 6 class meetings throughout the course without informing the instructor with a valid excuse will be dropped.

Students who are given add slips must complete the process by the 3rd class meeting. No replacement add slips will be signed.

Each student is expected to do his/her own work on all assignments, reports,

examinations, etc. A first offense of academic dishonesty will result in a zero grade on that assignment or exam plus a filing of a report with the Dean of Students giving your name and describing the incident. A second offense anywhere in the college or an especially egregious first offense will result in disciplinary action by the Professor or the Dean which can include failure in the course and dismissal from the college.

Here is a list of some actions that are considered cheating:

1. Expect to Work. This is not supposed to be easy.

• Never miss class unless you're dead, & take good notes.

• Spend 2-3 hours studying for each 1 hour you spend in class.

• Review your class notes before the next class meeting.

• Read the relevant chapters in your textbook & add these notes to your

class notes.

• Use associations to help you remember things.

(schedule subject to change)

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