This document provides an overview of pharmacology concepts relevant for dental assistants. It discusses why dental assistants need to understand pharmacology when reviewing patient medication histories, assisting with dental procedures requiring premedication, and in medical emergencies. It defines key terms like drugs, generic names, brand names, and provides examples of common medications prescribed in dentistry like analgesics, antibiotics, anti-anxiety agents, and stimulants. It also reviews drug classifications, prescriptions, abbreviations, and methods of drug administration.

1. Module C
Week 4
Pharmacology

2. Pharmacology: The science or branch of
medicine that includes the research,
development and manufacture of drugs
Drug: A substance that can be taken for
the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
of disease

3. Why Dental Assistants Need
Pharmacology?
Situations:
 When reviewing a patient’s medication
history
 When assisting in dental procedures that
require premedication
 When assisting in a specific dental procedure
for which pain control is required
 When assisting in a medical emergency

4. MOD – C WEEK 4 REVIEW
1. Sources of Caffeine
2. Sublingual
3. Tolerance
4. Abbreviation: PO

5. Generic Name: The shorthand version of
the drug’s chemical name, structure, or
formula; a name that any business firm may
use
Brand Name or Trade Name: Controlled
by a pharmaceutical company as a registered
trademark
Drugs are commonly identified by…
Brand Name Generic Name

6. Dispensing of Drugs
Drugs are classified in two categories according to the way
an individual can purchase them:
 Patent medicines / over-the-counter (OTC) drugs
are drugs that can be obtained without a prescription
 Prescription drugs / ethical drugs
are licensed medicines that are regulated by legislation
and require a prescription before they can be obtained
from a pharmacist

7. Controlled Substance Act (1970) set the requirements for
prescription drugs and are classified according to the
following:
 Potential for abuse by a patient
 Potential for dependency on medication
 Medical usefulness of the drug
 Cost to the patient
 Brand name vs. generic
Federal Law

8. Drugs that have NO medical use at this
time
Most dangerous drug
Very high potential for abuse and
dependency
Ex. Heroin, LSD, Marijuana
DEA SCHEDULED DRUGS
(Federal Drug Enforcement Agency)
Schedule 1

9. 5. Topical (forms)
6. Pharmacology
7. Nicotine effect
8. Tetracycline
9. Codeine
10.Medical term for Crack
11.Inhalation Administered Drugs
12. Function of Antibiotics

10.  Lysergic acid diethylamide
 Once used in experiments by psychiatrists
through the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s.
 Researchers failed to discover any
medical use for the drug
 LSD was popularized in the 1960s by
psychologist Timothy Leary, who
encouraged American students to “turn
on, tune in, and drop out.”
LSD

11.  Cocaine is a powerful nervous system stimulant and has
powerful, negative effects on the heart, brain, and
emotions
 May produce anesthesia in low doses
 Sometimes used in surgery but NEVER prescribed by
physician
 Sold “on the streets” in powder form
 May also come in “rock form”
 AKA – “Crack”
Cocaine

12. High potential for abuse
BUT have medical use
NO “phone in” prescriptions or refills
Examples: Demerol, Morphine, Percodan,
Dilaudid and Nembutal
Schedule II

13.  Lower potential for abuse and dependency
 Accepted Medical Use
 Can be called in by Dr. only
 Examples are:
 Tylenol with codeine – aka Tylenol #3
 Vicodin - aka hydrocodone
 Some stimulants and barbiturates
 Needs written prescription and cannot exceed 5 refills in 6
months
Schedule III

14.  Low abuse and dependency
 Has medical uses
 Rx needs to be in writing
 Can refill times over 6 months
 Can be called in by healthcare workers
 Examples are: Valium, Ambien, Darvon,
Darvocet
Schedule IV

15.  Very low dependency or potential for abuse
 Has medical use
 Most Over The Counter medications (OTC)
 Cold medications
 Sinus medications
 Some may require proof of age, i.e., driver
license
Schedule V

16. MOD – C WEEK 4 REVIEW
13.Abbreviation: NPO
14.DEA Number
15.Abbreviation: SL
16.OTC Drugs

17. Prescriptions
A written order provided by a physician or
dentist for the preparation and administration
of a medicine by the pharmacist
Federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
identification number
A professional who is authorized to prescribe
medications.

18. PARTS OF A PRESCRIPTION
Patients name, address, date and
symbol Rx (Latin: “recipe”)=(TAKE)
Main body: name and quantity
of the drug
Instruction to the pxn on how, when
and how much he/she can take the
medicine
Subscription: Instruction to the
pharmacist.
* Seldom done and seen in the
prescription.

19. Common Prescription Abbreviations
ABBREVIATION MEANING
a.c. Before meal
b.i.d Twice a day
disp. dispense
NPO Nothing by mouth
prn When necessary
q.d. Once a day
q.i.d. Four times a day
SL Sublingual
Tsp teaspoon

20. Drug Reference Materials
Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR)
Updated source of
information supplied by drug
companies about their
products
Available as a bound text, CD-
ROM, www.pdr.net
Mosby’s Dental Drug Reference
Dental-specific source

21. Methods of Administering Drugs
(Limited to methods most commonly used in the dental field)

22. 4 WAYS TO ADMINISTER:
1. Subcutaneous
Deep beneath the skin, i.e., insulin
for diabetes
2. Intradermal
Beneath the skin but shallow, i.e.,
TB or allergy tests
I. INJECTIONS

23. 3. Intramuscular
 Into a muscle, i.e.,
tetanus
4. Intravenous
 Into a vein, i.e., IV
sedation
Injections continued

24.  Into the mouth
 PO – in Latin “per orem”
 Can be swallowed / taken by mouth
SUBLINGUAL : placed
under the tongue
Nitroglycerine for chest pain
(angina) is a sublingual medication
 FORMS OF ORAL MEDICATION: liquid
form, pill, capsule or tablets
II. Oral Administration

25. Applied to the surface of
mucosa or skin
 Topical anesthetic
(Gel, liquid or spray)
 Antibiotic cream
(Neosporin)
III. Topical Administration
Ointment forms

26. Vapor taken into the lungs
 Asthma inhaler
 Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
 Dental patients who are
anxious
Great for children
IV. Inhalation Administration

27. MOD – C WEEK 4 REVIEW
17.Abbreviation: q.i.d
18. Tolerance
19.Schedule V Drugs
20.Abbreviation: b.i.d

28. I. Analgesics
• Mild pain relievers
Aspirin, Tylenol, ibuprofen
 Codeine is an analgesic AND a cough suppressant
II. Antibiotics
• Destroys bacteria
Penicillin, Erythromycin, Tetracycline
Tetracycline will stain teeth if taken
during the developmental stage
Common Drug Prescribed in
Dentistry

29. III.Anti-anxiety
Agents
“pain-free dentistry”
Ex. Xanex, Valium
IV.Antifungal Agents
Thrush (candida albicans)
Ex. Nystatin
Common Drug Prescribed in
Dentistry

30. Increases the activity of
nervous system and
organs
 Caffeine & nicotine
Caffeine is found in
chocolate, soft drinks
& cocoa
 Smoking is considered a
stimulant as well
Stimulants

31. Stages of Drug Action in the Body

32. 1. Dental Assistant : NOT ALLOWED
to call-in prescription
2. Document
3. Check patient for any unfavorable
reaction
4. Sealed medication
5. Patient information with
instructions
6. Provide instructions verbally
7. Discard unused medication
8. No sharing
8 Rules for Administering Medications
For use in the dental office

33.  Age – child or adult
 Gender – male or female
 Size – petite or very tall
 Weight – under or over
 Allergy – maybe contraindicated
 Habituation- cause dependency
 Cumulative – build up in body
Conditions that modify drugs

34.  Disease – heart or lung disease
 Synergism – 2 meds working together
 Antagonism – 2 meds working against each other
 Tolerance – drug resistance. Need of larger /
stronger amount to produce effect.
Natural – born with natural tolerance, drug has no effect
Acquired – through repeated use, drug loose their intended
effect
Conditions that modify drugs
cont.

35. You have now reached…

36. MOD – C WEEK 4 REVIEW (Instructors Guide)
1. Sources of Caffeine
Coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate, cocoa
2. Sublingual
Medication placed under the tongue
3. Tolerance
The need to have larger amounts of a drug
to produce the same effect
4. Abbreviation: PO
Means by mouth
5. Topical (forms)
Gel, liquid, ointment
6. Pharmacology
The science that includes the research,
development and manufacture of drugs
7. Nicotine effect
Stimulant; Speeds the body’s reaction
8. Tetracycline
Antibiotic that stains / discolor the teeth
9. Codeine
Analgesic and Cough suppressant
10. Medical term for Crack
Cocaine
11. Inhalation Administered Drugs
Nitrous oxide and asthma inhaler
12. Function of Antibiotics
Prevents bacterial colonization
13. Abbreviation: NPO
Nothing by mouth
14. DEA Number
Assigned number for individual that can
prescribe drugs
15. Abbreviation: SL
Sublingual
16. OTC Drugs
Do not need prescription

37. MOD – C WEEK 4 REVIEW
1. Sources of Caffeine 2. Sublingual
3. Tolerance 4. Abbreviation: PO
5. Topical (forms) 6. Pharmacology
7. Nicotine effect 8. Tetracycline
9. Codeine 10.Medical term for Crack
11.Inhalation Administered
Drugs
12. Function of Antibiotics
13.Abbreviation: NPO 14.DEA Number
15.Abbreviation: SL 16.OTC Drugs
17.Abbreviation: q.i.d 18. Tolerance
19.Schedule V Drugs 20.Abbreviation: b.i.d

38. MOD – C WEEK 4 REVIEW
1. Sources of Caffeine 2. Sublingual
3. Tolerance 4. Abbreviation: PO
5. Topical (forms) 6. Pharmacology
7. Nicotine effect 8. Tetracycline
9. Codeine 10.Medical term for Crack
11.Inhalation Administered
Drugs
12. Function of Antibiotics
13.Abbreviation: NPO 14.DEA Number
15.Abbreviation: SL 16.OTC Drugs
17.Abbreviation: q.i.d 18. Tolerance
19.Schedule V Drugs 20.Abbreviation: b.i.d

39. MOD – C WEEK 4 REVIEW (Instructors Guide)
17. Abbreviation: q.i.d
Every four hours
18. Schedule V Drugs
OTC Drugs
19. Abbreviation: b.i.d
Twice a day

40. REVIEW MOD – C FINALS
1. CAOH2 (calcium hydroxide)
placement
2. GV Blacks Cavity Classification
Study all including surfaces involved
3. National Bureau of Standard Test
for Amalgam
4. Gold knife / finishing bur
5. Purpose of Wedge 6. Sources of Contamination in
Amalgam
7. Aspirating technique safety
precautions
8. Matrix band for tofflemire retainer
9. Composite base - exception 10. Disadvantage of calcium hydroxide
11. Amalgam – carvers 12. Amalgam – burnishers
13. Alloy composition 14. USE: Amalgam and composite
restoration
15. Over trituration 16. Under trituration
17. Zinc Phosphate Content / Effect 18. Zone / Temp bond
19. Amalgam composition 20. Glass Ionomer (GI) Advantage

41. REVIEW MOD – C FINALS
21. Thick consistency cement 22. Thin consistency cement
23. Steps for amalgam restoration 24. Isolation material
25. Anterior Restorative Material 26. Posterior Restorative Material
27. Methods of drug administration 28. Esthetic
29. Abbreviation: P.O. 30. Procedure before bonding
31. Amalgam scraps storage 32. Nicotine effect
33. Articulating paper 34. Phosphoric acid
35. Medication with Codeine 36. Medical term for Crack
37. Subscription 38. Antibiotics - use
39. Sequence of liner, base, varnish
placement
40. DEA Number
41. Medication for amalgam only 42. Tetracycline

43. REVIEW MOD – C FINALS (Instructors’ Guide)
1. CAOH2 (calcium hydroxide) placement
Deepest part of the cavity prep
2. GV Blacks Cavity Classification
3. National Bureau of Standard Test for
Amalgam: Biting force, Temperature
changes, Bacteria
4. Gold knife / finishing bur
Removes composite flash
5. Purpose of Wedge
Adapts to the tooth contour
Provides tooth separation
Adapts amalgam to the tooth
6. Sources of Contamination in Amalgam
Blood in the cavity prep
Patients saliva
7. Aspirating technique safety
precautions
Not triggering the patient’s gag reflex
Not aspirating soft tissue
Not blocking the dentist’s view
Not aspirating cotton rolls, crowns, etc.
8. Matrix band for tofflemire retainer
Universal
Premolar band
Molar band
9. Composite base - exception
ZOE
10. Disadvantage of calcium hydroxide
Washes away easily
No adhesive qualities-not good as luting
cement
Need additional base if prep is big – not
strong by itself

44. REVIEW MOD – C FINALS (Instructors’ Guide)
11. Amalgam – carvers
Discoid/cleiod frahm carver
hollenback
12. Amalgam – burnishers
Egg and ball
acorn
13. Amalgam composition
Silver, Copper, Tin, Zinc
14. USE: Amalgam and composite
restoration
Final restorations
15. Over trituration
Decrease setting time, shrinkage
16. Under trituration
Increase setting time, weakens
material, expansion
17. Zinc Phosphate Content / Effect
Highly acidic (Phosphoric acid),
irritating to the pulp
18. Zone / Temp bond
Temporary cements used to cement
crowns
19. Amalgam composition
Alloy and Mercury
20. Glass Ionomer (GI) Advantage
Contains Fluoride Crystals
21. Thick consistency cement
Sedative restoration
22. Thin consistency cement
Luting / Cementation

45. REVIEW MOD – C FINALS
23. Steps for amalgam restoration
Prepare, isolate, medicate, restore, carve,
mark, finish
24. Isolation material
Cotton roll, Rubber dam
25. Anterior Restorative Material
Composite only
26. Posterior Restorative Material
Amalgam or composite
27. Methods of drug administration
Injection, Oral, Topical, Inhalation,
Sublingual
28. Esthetic
Attractive, pleasant
29. Abbreviation: P.O.
Taken by mouth
30. Procedure before bonding -
Etching
31. Amalgam scraps storage
Labeled and sealed container
32. Nicotine effect
Speeds body’s reaction; stimulant
33. Articulating paper
Check bite for high spots
34. Phosphoric acid
Found in acid etchant
35. Medication with Codeine
Analgesic and cough suppressant
36. Medical term for Crack
Cocaine

46. REVIEW MOD – C FINALS (Instructors’ Guide)
37. Subscription
Instruction to the Pharmacist
38. Antibiotics - use
Prevents spread of infection
39. Sequence of liner, base, varnish
placement
CAOH2 liner, ZOE base, 1st coat
varnish, 2nd coat varnish
40. DEA Number
Licensed to prescribe medication
41. Medication for amalgam only
Varnish and ZOE
42. Tetracycline
Antibiotic that stains teeth