Mar 28, 2024  
2013-2014 Official General Catalog 
    
2013-2014 Official General Catalog [Archived Catalog]

DEN 203 - Pain Management in Dentistry


Management of pain control through the use of local anesthetic agents and the administration of nitrous oxide and oxygen sedation.  The physiologic and pharmacologic agents, indications and contraindications for use, and the treatment of complications and emergencies are stressed.  Other modalities of pain control will be discussed.  This course meets the New York State Education Department’s requirements for certification in the Administration and Monitoring of Local Infiltration Anesthesia and Nitrous Oxide Analgesia in the Practice of Dental Hygiene.  Enrollment in this course requires documentation of current certification in CPR (BLS for Health Professionals).

Prerequisite- Corequisite
Prerequisites:  DEN 102 and current certification in CPR (BLS for Health Professionals)

Corequisite:  DEN 201 Dental Hygiene III

Prior or Concurrent:  DEN 204 General and Oral Pathology, DEN 205 Periodontology, DEN 206 Dental Pharmacology, DEN 290 Dental Nutrition

Credits: 2
Hours
1 Class Hour, 2 Laboratory Hours
Course Profile
Learning Outcomes of the Course:

Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

1.  Describe relevant New York State Education Law and Commissioner’s Regulations.
2.  Demonstrate proper medical history review and evaluation procedures.
3.  Differentiate the pediatric and adult respiratory and circulatory physiology and related anatomy.
4.  Describe states of drug-induced central nervous system depression through levels of anxiolysis, conscious sedation, deep sedation and general anesthesia.
5.  Identify definitions and descriptions of physiological and psychological aspects of anxiety and pain.
6.  Define pharmacology of agents used in inhalation sedation, local anesthesia and vasoconstrictors, including drug interactions and incompatibilities.
7.  Identify indications and contraindications for use of inhalation sedation and local anesthesia.
8.  Identify recommended dosages of local anesthesia and nitrous oxide analgesia.
9.  Describe patient monitoring using observation, with particular attention to vital signs and reflexes related to consciousness.
10.  Differentiate selection and preparation of the armamentaria and record keeping for administering various local anesthesia agents and nitrous oxide analgesia.
11.  Identify recognition and management of complications and management of reactions to local anesthetic agents and nitrous oxide analgesia.
12.  Describe proper infection control techniques with regard to local anesthetic and nitrous oxide analgesia and proper disposal of sharps.
13.  Identify the description and use of inhalation sedation equipment.
14.  Define the introduction to potential health hazards of trace anesthetics and proposed techniques for limiting occupational exposure such as appropriate scavenging systems.
15.  Describe abuse potential and hallucinatory effects of nitrous oxide analgesia.
16.  Identify post-operative care of the patient and instruction to the patient.
17.  Complete a course in basic life support (BLS) prior to the start of the course.
18.  Selection and preparation of the armamentaria for administering various local anesthetic agents and nitrous oxide analgesia, including demonstrations regarding scavenging systems.
19.  Demonstration of proper infection control techniques with regard to local anesthetic agents and nitrous oxide analgesia and proper disposal of sharps.
20.  Demonstration of proper evaluation of the patient’s health status, taking the patient’s vital signs and monitoring the patient’s physical status while under the effects of local anesthesia and/or nitrous oxide analgesia.
21.  Administration of local anesthetic in conjunction with inhalation sedation techniques.
22.  A clinical experience, under the personal supervision of a licensed dentist, demonstrating the successful use of local infiltration in no fewer than 15 instances involving the treatment of a patient, provided that no individual patient may be treated more than three times; and a clinical experience demonstrating the successful use of nitrous oxide analgesia in no fewer than 15 instances involving the treatment of a patient, provided that in no such instance may an individual patient be treated more than two times.

Intended Learning Outcome:

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to consistently give infiltration injections of local anesthetic that are safe and effective with minimal discomfort.  The participant will also be able to provide nitrous oxide analgesia using safe and effective techniques with the understanding of the indications, contraindications and environmental safety considerations.  DEN 203 - Pain Management will prepare the senior dental hygiene student to carry out the dental hygiene process of care involving proper pain management utilizing patient assessment, dental hygiene diagnosis, treatment planning, implementation and evaluation of treatment.  The student will be able to provide appropriate life support measures for medical emergencies that may be encountered in dental hygiene practice while providing pain management.  The student will implement problem solving strategies (critical thinking and decision - making skills) when providing pain management during comprehensive patient care and management of patients.