vcc.ca
DHYG 2270: Pharmacology in Dental Hygiene 1
Effective date
September 2026
Department
Dental Hygiene
School
Health Sciences
Description
This course will provide learners with knowledge in pharmacology related to analgesic and local anesthesia pain control and experience in the administration local anesthesia for the provision of dental hygiene services.
Credits
3.0
Year of study
2nd Year Post-secondary
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Explain how drugs are administered, distributed, metabolized and excreted, and the purpose and uses of nutraceuticals.
- Explain the action of analgesic drugs and their indication/contraindications for use.
- Explain the effects autonomic drugs have on the nervous system.
- Explain neuroanatomy and the pharmacology of local anesthetics and vasoconstrictors and how they produce conduction blockade.
- Explain concepts of pain and how to manage, and the armamentarium used in the delivery of local anesthesia.
- Explain client medical considerations and prevention and/or management of local and systemic complications related to the administration of local anesthesia.
- Demonstrate how to calculate the maximum safe dosage of local anesthetics and vasoconstrictors.
- Explain the site of tissue penetration, area of local anesthetic solution deposition, dosage of anesthetic, and tissues anesthetized for each dental injection.
- Demonstrate maxillary and mandibular injection techniques and documentation of treatment according to the dental hygiene practice standards
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
None
Hours
Lecture, Online, Seminar, Tutorial: 36
Clinical, Lab, Rehearsal, Shop, Kitchen, Simulation, Studio: 12
Total Hours: 48
Clinical, Lab, Rehearsal, Shop, Kitchen, Simulation, Studio: 12
Total Hours: 48
Instructional Strategies
Instructional strategies are used such as dental laboratory sessions, demonstrations, synchronous and asynchronous online sessions, and small group presentations.
Grading System
Letter Grade (A-F)
Passing grade
C and successful completion of all clinical evaluations
Evaluation Plan
|
Type |
Percentage |
Assessment activity |
|
Exam |
25 |
Written midterm examination |
|
Exam |
35 |
Local Anesthetic (LA) Exam *must achieve 60% on the exam to pass the course |
|
Quizzes/Tests |
30 |
2-3 Quizzes |
|
Project |
10 |
Case Study Group Presentation |
|
Clinical Examination |
S |
LA Clinical Injections |
Course topics
- Nutraceutical remedies
- Drug action and handling
- Analgesic drugs
- Autonomic drugs and the nervous system
- Neuroanatomy and pharmacology of local anesthetics and vasoconstrictors
- Concepts of pain management
- Local anesthetic armamentarium
- Client evaluation and local and systemic complications from local anesthesia
- Calculation of local anesthetic dosage
- Maxillary and mandibular injection techniques
Learning resources
Course resource information will be supplied by the department/instructor.
Notes:
- Course contents and descriptions, offerings and schedules are subject to change without notice.
- Students are required to follow all College policies including ones that govern their educational experience at VCC. Policies are available on the VCC website at:
https://www.vcc.ca/about/governance--policies/policies/. - To find out if there are existing transfer agreements for this course, visit the BC Transfer Guide at https://www.bctransferguide.ca.