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Pharmacology in Dentistry

Karen Morris

Dental Hygiene, South College

RDH #1310: Pharmacology

Ms. Sarah McKinney

November 21, 2022

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Pharmacology in Dentistry

It is the duty of any healthcare professional to give their patients optimal healthcare

attention, which includes making well-informed assessments, having ample knowledge of the

various drug classes and their effects on patients, and understanding the scientific aspects of how

these drugs act within the body system. In the same light, a dental hygienist must understand the

various conditions affecting the dental system, treatment options for the various types of teeth

conditions, and know how different drugs react to the body. As such, pharmacology, which

refers to the study of pharmaceuticals or drugs, plays a crucial role in dentistry as it helps dental

hygienists to understand the chemical composition of drugs and how they react within the

various body systems, which ultimately helps them to improve the overall safety and quality of

dental hygiene care.

Patel (2022) discusses the importance of pharmacology in dentistry. According to the

article, dental science has significantly evolved over the years, which has seen dental surgery

modernized and digitalized. Since some dental diseases are solved through medications, the

article emphasizes the importance of pharmacology, especially pharmacokinetics and

pharmacodynamics, to help dentists understand the dynamics of dental drugs and successfully

distribute the right drugs for various dental conditions. On the other hand, Nassar and

Ouanounou (2020) review the most appropriate practices to assist clinicians through oral

treatment from diagnosis to the maintenance of care in patients who abuse Methamphetamine

and cocaine. According to the article, clinicians need pharmacological intervention to evaluate

these illicit drugs' effects on patients' dental systems, maximize prognosis, and maintain the

optimal oral health of each patient. Finally, Baakdah et al. (2021) also explain the benefits of

conducting pediatric dental treatment using pharmacological interventions compared to non-

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pharmacological techniques. According to the study's results, dental treatments utilizing

pharmacological interventions through general anesthesia have higher chances of success than

non-pharmacological interventions.

An examination of the above peer-reviewed journals shows that they all acknowledge the

utmost importance of pharmacology in the various aspects of dentistry and other medical fields.

For instance, Patel (2022) notes that pharmacology is an applied science that studies how drugs

react and how they are metabolized within the body. By focusing on pharmacokinetics and

pharmacodynamics, the article gives further detail on how drugs are absorbed, distributed, and

excreted while showing their efficacy, potency, and interactions. On the other hand, Nassar and

Ouanounou (2020) note that since some patients seeking oral care might be illicit drug users,

pharmacology can be a useful tool to help dental hygienists to provide effective treatment that

will counter the effects of illicit drugs such as addictions. Finally, Baakdah et al. (2021) also

align with the observations of the other articles in showing that for most dental procedures, the

administration of medications and sedatives is required, which calls for expertise and knowledge

in pharmacological methods compared to non-pharmacological techniques such as motivation,

confidence-building, and psychotherapeutic strategies, among other non-medicinal interventions.

Therefore, it is imperative for all dental professionals to have a rich knowledge of

pharmacological methods to be successful in their field.

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References

Baakdah, R., Turkistani, J., Al-Qarni, A., Al-Abdali, A., Alharbi, H., Bafaqih, J., &Alshehri, Z.

(2021). Pediatric Dental Treatments with Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological

Interventions: A Cross-Sectional Study.

https://bmcoralhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12903-021-01555-7

Nassar, P., & Ouanounou, A. (2020). Cocaine and Methamphetamine: Pharmacology and

Dental Implications. National Library of Medicine.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7668266/

Patel, H.H. (2022). Importance of Pharmacology in Dentistry.

https://www.news-medical.net/health/Importance-of-Pharmacology-in-Dentistry.aspx