Study Guide

Objectives

After completing the course, the student will be able to act purposefully and safely in pain relief and in other pharmacotherapy tasks within their scope of responsibility. The student will be competent to prescribe, monitor, and evaluate medications required for professional practice from the pharmacy based on a pro auctore prescription, adhering to regulations and patient safety requirements.

Upon completion of the studies, the student will:

• be able to apply legislation and regulatory guidelines in pharmacotherapy within their scope of responsibility
• identify their professional competence and responsibility in pain relief and medication prescribing within their scope, consulting other professionals when necessary
• apply pharmacological knowledge of anesthetics and drugs within the scope of limited prescribing in their work
• define indications and contraindications for locally used drugs in oral care and select an appropriate anesthetic for the patient
• identify and anticipate risks and complications associated with the use of anesthetics and drugs within the scope of limited prescribing and act in emergency situations
• describe pain relief methods used in oral care
• master anesthetist techniques within the scope of a dental hygienist's responsibility and act in a patient-safe manner
• interpret prescriptions and document pharmacotherapy
• guide patients in pharmacotherapy within the dental hygienist's scope and write a pro auctore prescription
• develop a pharmacotherapy plan for the clinic and implement the plan accordingly.

Content

• laws, regulations, and official guidelines concerning the professional activities of a dental hygienist, patient care, pharmacotherapy, and prescribing of medications
• ethical principles of professional conduct (values, ethics, and responsibility) for dental hygienists in pharmacotherapy and medication prescribing.
• scope of practice and expertise of a dental hygienist in pain relief and medication prescribing
• local medications and anesthetics for oral care, their pharmacology, use, contraindications, and selection of anesthetics
• local and systemic complications of medications and anesthesia used in oral area
• emergency situations in pharmacotherapy for dental hygienists, risk management
• techniques for oral anesthesia
• performing topical anesthesia, gingival pocket anesthesia, and infiltration anesthesia using anesthesia equipment and safe techniques
• interpretation of prescriptions, documentation of pharmacotherapy
• writing and record-keeping of pro auctore prescriptions
• pharmacotherapy plan for the clinic.

Prerequisites

The student has taken part in the teaching of the first-year curriculum.
The student has completed the following courses:
Anatomy and Physiology
Fundamentals of Dentistry in Dental Hygienist's Work
Infection Control and Safety
Safe Pharmacotherapy in the Dental Hygienist Profession

Assessment criteria, pass/fail

The student has actively participated in the teaching and demonstrated mastery of the learning objectives through task completion.