Niagara College

Description:

This course introduces the dental hygiene student to the fundamental principles of pharmacology and provides a comprehensive understanding of pharmaceuticals used to manage general and oral health conditions. Students will examine the origin, physical and chemical properties, mechanisms of action, modes of administration, and therapeutic effects of medications commonly encountered in dental practice. Emphasis is placed on interpreting health histories, assessing the significance of medication use and medical conditions, recognizing oral and systemic manifestations associated with disease and pharmacological agents, evaluating their implications for dental hygiene care, and applying this knowledge to support safe pain management strategies, treatment modifications, and evidence-informed clinical decision-making within the dental hygiene scope of practice.