A challenge faced by all clinicians today is to provide safe and effective dental treatment to their medically complex patients. It is imperative that all dental practitioners be aware of the medical considerations of agents commonly used in the practice of dentistry as well as the dental considerations of the medications frequently prescribed for the treatment of multiple systemic diseases. This program will present an overview of dental pharmacology for the whole dental team. Special emphasis will be given to those medications prescribed or administered in the practice of dentistry whose actions, effects or interactions with other drugs may impact treatment of systemic disease.
Learning Objectives:
Describe the pharmacology of opioid and non-opioid analgesics.
Explain appropriate prescribing practices for opioid and non-opioid analgesics in the management of acute dental pain.
Discuss local anesthetic agents with respect to their mechanisms of action, adverse effects and contraindications.
Examine the pharmacology of anti-infective agents commonly used in dentistry and their clinical considerations.