Dental Pharmacology

Code:

310

Acronym:

310

Instance: 2004/2005 - A

Active?	Yes
Course/CS Responsible:

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MD	50	Plano oficial a partir de 2000	3	6	10	-

Objectives

"Dental Pharmacology" has an essentially formative and informative nature. The program and the teaching methodology aim at to provide ample and varied pharmacologic knowledge, in order to allow the understanding of subsequent subjects related to therapeutics.

Program

I. Principles of pharmacology
II. Drugs used in the control of pain and inflammation
III. Pharmacology of the autonomic nervous system
IV. Pharmacology of the cental nervous system
V. Drugs that modify hemostasis
VI. Antimicrobial agents
VII. Fluoride
VIII. Antineoplastic drugs and immunotherapy
IX. Cardiovascular drugs. Antianemic drugs
X. Pharmacology of the respiratory system. Histamine and histamine antagonists
XI. Pharmacology of the gastrointestinal tract
XII. Hormones
XIII. Oral manifestations of the drugs
XIV. Drugs for medical emergencies

First section – Principles of Pharmacology - is intended to make the student familiar to the basic terms and concepts that characterise pharmacology. The knowledge of the aspects that are common to the use of any drug, such as its kinetic behavior in the organism, its mechanism of action and the way its therapeutical effect is evaluated is essential for the critical selection of the drug to be used in a particular situation. It also contributes for the rational use of the drugs, exposing the patient less frequently to useless therapeutical protocols and preventing adverse effect resulting from interactions with the patient, the illness or other drugs.

The groups of drugs that constitute the therapeutic armory of the dentist – drugs used in the control of pain and inflammation, hemostatic drugs and antimicrobial agents - are studied in detail regarding pharmacokinetics, mechanism of action, pharmacologic effects, therapeutic uses, adverse effects, interactions and the representative drugs.

The pharmacology of the various regulatory systems - autonomic nervous system, central nervous system, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, hormones - is adressed regarding the mechanism of action, pharmacological effects and representative drugs. Special attention is given to the aspects relevant in dental medicine, such as the possibility of pharmacologic interactions, consequences in the oral health and precautions with the patient during the dental procedures.

Information regarding the oral manifestations of the drugs and the drugs used in emergency situations is also included.

Main Bibliography

“Farmacologia e Terapêutica em Medicina Dentária”
Maria Helena Fernandes. Medisa, 2001 - 2004.

“Pharmacology and Therapeutics for Dentistry”, 4ª edition. J.A. Yagiela, E.A. Neidle, F.J. Dowd. Mosby, 1998.

"Pharmacology and dental therapeutics", third edition.
R.A. Seymour, J.G. meechan, M.S. Yates. Oxford University Press, 1999.

"Terapêutica medicamentosa e suas bases farmacológicas", 4ª edição.
Coordenação de W. Osswald e S. Guimarães. Porto Editora, 2001.

“Clinical Pharmacology”, 9ª edition.
P. N. Bennett, M. J. Brown. Churchill Livingstone, 2003.

Complementary Bibliography

Recent articles regarding the topics in discussion in the practical classes.

Teaching methods and learning activities

The learning methodology privileges the formation of a critical and selective mind and and not the indiscriminate memorization of information. The priority aim is to give emphasis to the principles of pharmacology and their application to specific situations, for instance, pharmacology of the regulatory systems, control of pain and inflammation, control of the infection. This aproach, from the general to the particular, emphasizing the importance of the basic concepts, aims at to minimize the risks of an outdate of the acquired knowledge, allowing simultaneously its application to new situations.
In the pharmacology of specificdrug groups, learning is based upon the study of the drugs that are representative of the respective pharmacologic group. The mechanism of action and pharmacokinetics are studied and, from these parameters, the pharmacologic effects, therapeutic uses, adverse effects e interactions are deduced. This methodology allows a quick understanding of the general characteristics of the drugs of the same group and, also, to make evident the differences among the various drugs of the group. This approach seems to be the possible solution, face to the constant variation of the available drugs. It also contributes to structuralize the information according to the rational sequence for drug use - selection, dosage, therapeutic and adverse effects and their monitorization - aspects that the students will have chance to develop in subsequent clinic subject matters.
The active participation of the student in the learning process is constantly stimulated. The involvement of the student contributes to the development of an attitude based on the curiosity and exploration of the knowledge, necessary for the process of continuous education which is essential for all the health professionals.

Theoretical classes: 2 x 60 minutes. The subjects are dealt in a systematic and organized form. The objectives and the main conclusions are clearly identified.

Theoretical-practical classes: 1 x 60 min. Extended knowledge on applied aspects of the topics teached in the theoretical classes.

Practical classes: 1 x 90 min. Students are organized in small groups. Discussion of topics related to the theoretical and theoretical-practical lessons and normally relevant in dentistry.
The lesson includes a brief presentation of the subject by the teacher and, subsequently, the students have chance to develop and to go deep on it by consulting a varied bibliography that mainly includes recent and relevant scientific articles on the subject in discussion. The critical analysis of relevant articles constitutes an important component of these lessons. However, these articles do not constitute source of primary information but, before, a work instrument that allows to illustrate the relevance of the subjects in discussion and to apply basic pharmacologic principles. In addition, the consultation of articles allows the student to be aware for the complexity of the available information, in terms of amount and quality, and the importance of its critical evaluation. Moreover, it makes possible the beginning of a behaviour that must be an integrant part of a continuous process of learning.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Eligibility for exams

Attendance of at least 2/3 of the theoretical-practical and practical classes.

Minimum classification of the practical assessment to attend the theoretical assessment: 1.5 points (out of 20)

Calculation formula of final grade

A. Continuous assessment
Arithmetic mean of the classifications of the two theoretical tests + Sum of the classifications of the mini-tests (practical assessment).

B. Final assessment
Classification of the final theoretical exam + Sum of the classifications of the mini-tests (practical assessment).

Minimum classification of approval = 9,5 points = 10 points (out of 20)

Observations

Teaching staff:
Maria Helena Raposo Fernandes - Full Professor
Maria de Lurdes Lobo Pereira - Assistant

Language of teaching:
Portuguese

National Credit Units / European Credit Transfer System:
6 NCU / 10 ECTU