1. Principles of Pharmacology
Chapter 30
Principles of Pharmacology

2. Pharmacology
The science or branch of medicine that conducts research and development in the use and effects of drugs

3. Drug
A substance used in the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease.
All drugs must be recognized and defined by the US Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act before they can be marketed to the public in the US

4. A drug is identified by three names
Chemical name: which is the chemical formula of a drug
Generic name: which may be used by any company; acetaminophen is an example of a generic name
Brand name, or trade name: which is controlled by business firm as a registered trademark; such as Tylenol is brand name for acetaminophen

5. Dispensing
Patent medicines: drugs that can be obtained without a prescription; also known as over-the-counter drugs
Ethical drugs: Prescription drugs (from a physician or dentist), supplied to patients only by a pharmacist.

6. Prescriptions
A written order by a physician or dentist for preparation and administration of a medicine
Persons legally authorized to prescribe medications are issued a Federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) identification number.
Dental assistants cannot prescribe medications

7. Terminology of Prescriptions
Superscription: patient name, address, the date and symbol Rx
Inscription: name and quantity of the drug
Subscription: directions for mixing the medication
Signature: instructions for the patient on how to take the medication, when and how much

8. Telephone Guidelines
Narcotics cannot be ordered without a written prescription
It is illegal for a Dental assistant to “call in” a prescription
Notify the dentist if the Pharmacist calls the office
Never attempt to evaluate a patient’s reaction to a drug.

9. Mosby’s Drug Consult
Annual source of information supplied by drug companies
It is a bound text, as well as a electronic source

10. Drugs Local-acting drug Systemic drug
Affects only the specific area of the body to which it is applied, such as a topical ointment
Systemic drug
Taken internally
Can affect the whole body by way of circulatory system

11. Administration Four stages Absorption Distribution Metabolism
Absorbed from site of entry—speed varies, slowest is orally
Distribution
Enters bloodstream, attaches to proteins within blood, and circulates throughout the body
Metabolism
Compound is released, and drug becomes metabolized and is then excreted through liver or kidneys
Excretion
Drug leaves the body by way of kidneys, liver, breast milk or sweat

12. Routes Oral—tablets, liquid Topical—apply on surface of mucosa
Transdermal –patch that continuously releases medication
Inhalation—breathing in substance
Sublingual—medication placed under the tongue

13. Controlled Substances Act
Drugs that are covered under the Federal Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act are divided into five schedules

14. Schedules Schedule I Schedule II Schedule III Schedule IV Schedule V
No current accepted medical use/high potential for abuse
Schedule II
High potential for abuse, some medical usefulness
Schedule III
Less abuse potential than Schedule I and II, and has accepted medical usefulnes
Schedule IV
Low abuse potential and have accepted medical usefulness
Schedule V
Lowest abuse potential and accepted medical usefulness/no prescription needed

15. Chapter 37
Anesthesia and Pain Control

16. Topical Anesthesia
Provides numbing effect in an area where in injection is to take place
Ointments, liquids, sprays or patches

17. Local Anesthesia
Most frequently used form of pain control in dentistry
Obtained by injecting an anesthetic solution near a nerve where treatment is to take place
Each local anesthetic cartridge contains
Local anesthetic drug
Sodium choloride
Distilled water

18. Uses of Vasoconstrictors
Slows down the intake of an anesthetic agent and increases the duration of action
Prolongs the effect of the anesthetic agent by decreasing the blood flow in immediate area of the injection
Decreases bleeding in the injected area

19. Contraindications to Vasoconstrictors
May cause strain on the heart
Not recommended for patients with a history of:
Angina
Chest pain (heart related)
Recent myocardial infarction
Coronary artery bypass surgery
Untreated or severe hypertension
Congestive heart failure

20. Duration of Anesthetics
Know the duration (in minutes) of each of the following
Short-acting local anesthetic
Intermediate-acting local anesthetic
Long-acting local anesthetic

21. Injection Techniques Infiltration Anesthesia Block Anesthesia
Usually used for Maxillary arch
Also used for secondary injection to block gingival tissues surrounding mandibular teeth
Block Anesthesia
Usually used for mandibular arch
Block nerves for the quadrant

22. Syringe
Know the parts of the syringe and their functions

23. Cartridges/Disposable Needle
Know the color-coding system
Know the parts of the cartridge
Know the parts of the needle
Know the size of the needle for dentistry
Lumen—the hollow center of the needle-how the anesthetic flows through needle
The larger the gauge number—thinner the needle
The smaller the gauge number—thicker the needle

24. Complications and Precautions
Know in detail
Injection into a blood vessel
Infected areas
Toxic reactions
Systemic reactions
Temporary numbness
paresthesia

25. Inhalation sedation Know the chemical make-up
Advantages of Nitrous Oxide Use
Contraindications of Nitrous Oxide Use
Equipment

26. Intravenous sedation General Anesthesia
Understand the uses of IV sedation
General Anesthesia
Know definition
Know in detail the four stages of anesthesia

27. Happy Testing