Pharmacology for the Dental Hygienist Syllabus for 2011-2012
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

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As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

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Course

DHYG-1235-001 Pharmacology for the Dental Hygienist

Prerequisites

Course Description

Classes of drugs and their uses, actions, interactions, side effects, contraindications and systemic and oral manifestations with emphasis on dental applications.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(2 sem hrs; 2 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Students MUST have the CURRENT edition of all required textbooks and must bring textbooks to ALL scheduled class sessions.

1. Applied Pharmacology for the Dental Hygienist– 6^th Edition, Haveles

2. Drug Information Handbook for Dentistry 7^th edition, 2011-2012, Lexicomp

Reference Texts

1. Physicians’ Desk Reference 2012, located in Clinic under purified water cabinet
2. Current Dental Hygiene Journals

Supplies

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• \ Library Card for AC and /or city library
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• \ Computer and Internet Access, printer, print cartridges
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• \ Index cards, scantrons, paper, pens, markers
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• \ Additional materials as needed
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Student Performance

\ To provide the dental hygiene student an understanding of drug groups, their mechanisms of action, dosage, indications of use, adverse effects, drug interactions and the oral side effects in the treatment of human disease processes and its relationship to dentistry and how to apply this knowledge in a clinical setting.

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\ Upon completion of the course the student shall be able to:

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\ 1. Identify the appropriate reference book (s) needed to obtain a variety of information concerning drugs
\ 2. Define general terms and explain the principles of pharmacology
\ 3. Associate the names of selected individual drugs with appropriate drug groups
\ 4. List and explain the major pharmacological effects associated with the drug group studied
\ 5. Identify the major adverse reactions of the drug groups studied
\ 6. Describe the major therapeutic uses for the drug group studied
\ 7. List the treatment of a patient with a problem associated with drug administration including overdose, adverse reaction, allergy or idiosyncratic reaction
\ 8. Describe the contraindications and/or precautions for the use of the drug groups studied
\ 9. Explain a drug’s mechanism of action, when applicable
\ 10. Recognize a drug’s interaction with other drugs, disease states, or foods
\ 11. Compare and contrast an individual drug within one group with its members of with another drug group
\ 12. Describe the management of dental patients when taking drug (s)
\ 13. Compile a table of top drugs to include their mechanisms of action, dosage, indication of use, adverse effects, drug interactions, and oral side effects
\ 14. Differentiate the terms phobia, fear, and anxiety.
\ 15. Analyze patient responses to questions in the dental history designed to detect anxiety about treatment.
\ 16. Identify the origin of a patient’s anxiety through questioning during the initial interview.
\ 17. Identify and evaluate fear-provoking situations with a patient.
\ 18. Recognize the signs and behaviors that indicate dental fear.
\ 19. Evaluate the reliability of tools used to assess dental anxiety.
\ 20. Compare psychological and behavioral strategies for managing dental anxiety.
\ 21. Formulate a personalized treatment plan for a fearful patient, using anxiety reducing techniques.
\ 22. Use non-pharmacological strategies to promote patient relaxation.

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\ 23. Appreciate the history of nitrous oxide use and its association with the dental profession.
\ 24. Identify the effects of nitrous oxide on pain, anxiety, and the body’s system.
\ 25. Understand the properties of nitrous oxide.
\ 26. Explain indications and relative contraindications for the use of nitrous oxide sedation.
\ 27. Identify equipment associated with nitrous oxide sedation.
\ 28. Describe the appropriate technique for nitrous oxide administration.
\ 29. Recognize signs and symptoms of ideal sedation and over sedation.
\ 30. Recognize appropriate recovery from nitrous oxide sedation.
\ 31. Separate facts from fallacies associated with chronic exposure to nitrous oxide sedation.
\ 32. Describe methods for detection and assessment of trace levels of nitrous oxide in the dental setting.
\ 33. Describe methods to minimize trace levels of nitrous oxide in the dental setting.

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\ The student will know that these objectives have been successfully completed if he or she earns a final course grade of “C” or higher as evaluated by the instructor.

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\ The standard for the objectives may be one or any combination of the following:

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\ - as given in lecture
\ - as demonstrated, discussed in the clinic experience
\ - as given in handouts
\ - as stated in the course texts
\ - as given on exams
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Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

\ The Amarillo College Dental Hygiene Program has specific policies which apply to student conduct within the program.  These policies may be implied or written.  The course syllabus and the program manual are sources for specific student conduct policies for dental hygiene students at Amarillo College. 

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\   Professional Standards

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• \ Student is prompt for class.
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• \ Student is prepared for class sessions.
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• \ Student assumes responsibility for his/her own learning.
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• \ Student is concerned with excellence in learning rather than just meeting minimal criteria.
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• \ Student applies lecture material in the clinic setting.
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• \ Student will seek faculty assistance if needed, and will monitor their own progress in meeting course requirements.
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• \ Student maintains his/her composure, dealing with conflict in a constructive way.
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• \ Student exhibits an attitude of respect for classmates, faculty and staff.
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• \ Students may not be disruptive or talk to each other during lectures, presentations, guest lectures, etc.  Should this occur, the student will be asked to leave the classroom immediately.
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Grading Criteria

\ The following criteria will be used to determine your grade

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\ Major Exams 75%
\ Comprehensive Final 25%

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\ The following grade scale applies throughout this course:

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\ A = 93 100%
\ B = 83 92%
\ C = 75 82%
\ F = Below 75%
\ Note: A grade of "D" is not possible in this course.

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\ In order to pass the course, a student must achieve a final grade of 75% and meet all requirements of the course. All students are considered mature enough to seek faculty assistance and to monitor their own progress in meeting course requirements. Students who continually fall below the minimal level of 75% on graded material should seek assistance from the course faculty.

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\ Make-up Policy

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\ If a student is absent on the day when a major examination is given, the student may make-up the missed work as follows: 

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• \ It is the responsibility of the student to make arrangements with the instructor within 24 hours of returning from the absence to reschedule the examination
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• \ The missed work must be made up within TWO Amarillo College school days where the day ends at 4:00 pm.
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• \ The makeup work may earn a maximum of 80% of the original point value
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Attendance

\ “Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement.  Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class.”  (Amarillo College Student’s Rights and Responsibilities Publication).  Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class. Due to the tremendous amount of information contained in this course, the student who plans to succeed should also plan to attend all course sessions regularly and promptly.  Without question, the instructor expects each student to be present at each session.  Unfortunately, no one has ever developed a short cut which will replace hours of actual experience needed to master a new skill; therefore, you must be present to acquire the specific knowledge in this subject. 

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\ Absences will be monitored and evaluated to determine the student’s final course grade.  The student may have no more than 1 absence in this course without affecting the final grade.  Beginning with the 2nd absence, 2 points will be deducted from the final grade; on the 3rd absence, 3 points will be deducted; on the 4th absence, 4 points will be deducted.  On the occurrence of the 5th absence, the student will fail the course and be required to repeat the course.  Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each lecture and lab session.  Students not present when attendance is taken will be counted as absent. The student is expected to be present in class at the time class/lab is scheduled to begin. STUDENTS WHO ARE LATE TO CLASS OR LAB OR WHO LEAVE CLASS OR LAB EARLY, WILL BE COUNTED AS ABSENT.  The student will receive 2 bonus points to the final grade of this course if the student has perfect attendance for the semester.  

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\ Tardiness Policy

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\ You are expected to be present in the class at the time when it is scheduled to begin.  If class has already begun and you arrive late or if you delay the start of a class, you will be considered late.  Late arrivals will be counted as an absence.  An absence will be counted after 5 minutes have elapsed from the start of the class.

Calendar

Additional Information

\ Faculty Assistance

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\ All students are considered mature enough to seek faculty assistance from the course director and to monitor their own progress in meeting course requirements.  If students have questions concerning assignments, content, etc., or if a problem arises that warrants instructor help, please do not hesitate to call or come by my office to schedule an appointment.  If I am unavailable, leave a note and I will contact you as soon as possible.  I prefer to work with a scheduled appointment so that I may devote the time and attention necessary to meet each student’s needs.

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\ Electronic and Recording Devices

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\ No tape recordings of the lecture during classroom or lab instruction will be allowed. Any student wtith special needs and/or prior approval is the exception.

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\ Academic Grievance Procedure

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\ A student who has a grievance concerning an academic course in which he or she is enrolled is directed to appeal in the following order to the:  (1) Instructor  (2) Department Chair/Program Director  (3)  Dean of Health Sciences  (4)  Vice President of Academic Affairs  (5)  College President.