2023-2024 Academic Catalog 
    
    Mar 29, 2024  
2023-2024 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

DEHY 244 - Pain Control

2 CR
This course is a combination of classroom and lab that studies the physiology of pain and strategies for pain control. Students learn pharmacological, topical, inhalation and local pain control methods. Additionally, students are instructed in the management of medical emergencies related to the administration of pain control agents. Students learn the techniques needed to administer local anesthesia and nitrous oxide conscious sedation. Students receive laboratory and clinical practice in these techniques in DEHY 241 , offered concurrently. Lab Fee

Additional Information: Formal admission to the Dental Hygiene Program required.
Requisites: Take  DEHY 235  and DEHY 240  with at least a grade of C.
Course Learning Outcomes:
  1. Explain the importance of adequate pain control as a prelude to providing quality dental hygiene care.
  2. Describe the concepts of the origin of pain, pain perception, pain reaction, and pain threshold.
  3. Summarize the non-pharmacologic methods of controlling pain and anxiety.
  4. Evaluate the mental and physical status of individual patients to determine the indication for the use of local anesthesia and/or nitrous oxide-oxygen analgesia.
  5. Explain the physiology of the peripheral nervous system and the effect of local anesthetic on neurotransmission.
  6. Summarize the pharmacology of the commonly used local anesthetic agents and vasoconstrictors.
  7. Describe the neuroanatomy of the trigeminal nerve.
  8. Summarize the local and systemic complications that may arise from the administration of local anesthesia and recommend management avenues for these complications.
  9. Differentiate between the various components of the armamentarium for local anesthesia and nitrous oxide-oxygen sedation and clarify the purpose of each component.
  10. Describe the anatomical landmarks on a patient for the following injections: supraperiosteal, anterior superior alveolar nerve block, infraorbital nerve block, middle superior alveolar nerve block, posterior superior alveolar nerve block, greater palatine nerve block, nasopalatine nerve block, inferior alveolar nerve block, lingual nerve block, buccal nerve block, mental nerve block, Gow Gates nerve block and Akinosi nerve block.
  11. Determine the nerve, teeth and soft tissue areas that are anesthetized with each of the preceding injection techniques.
  12. Perform the following injection techniques to clinical competency: supraperiosteal infiltration, anterior, middle and posterior superior alveolar nerve block, inferior alveolar nerve block, mental nerve block, buccal nerve block, greater palatine and nasopalatine nerve block and lingual nerve infiltration.
  13. Compare and contrast the risks and benefits of using nitrous oxide-oxygen analgesia for dental hygiene treatment.
  14. Advise a patient of the signs and symptoms of nitrous oxide-oxygen analgesia.
  15. Interpret adverse reactions and emergencies related to nitrous oxide administration and determine the proper management techniques.
  16. Summarize the physiology and pharmacology of nitrous oxide-oxygen analgesia.
  17. Acquire competency in the effective administration of nitrous oxide-oxygen analgesia to the appropriate levels and return patients to pre-operative levels.
  18. Articulate pre- and post-operative patient instructions for the use of local anesthesia and nitrous oxide-oxygen analgesia.
  19. Summarize the environmental and safety hazards associated with the use of nitrous oxide.