Pain Management

Catalog description

This course is designed for dental hygiene students to provide comprehensive knowledge for the safe and effective administration of local anesthetic agents in a dental hygiene setting. Students will learn the pharmacology of local anesthetics, techniques for administering injections, patient assessment and management strategies, and legal and ethical considerations related to the administration of local anesthesia. Through a combination of pedagogical strategies (e.g. lectures, videos, discussions) students will develop competence to understand the competence needed to administer and evaluate the use of local anesthesia procedures with confidence and care. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the anatomical landmarks, nerve physiology, and potential complications associated with local anesthesia. The course aims to prepare students to integrate anesthesia into their practice of dental hygiene, enhancing patient comfort and improving clinical outcomes. This course and associated learning outcomes are designed to ensure that dental hygiene students gain the necessary theoretical knowledge required to administer local anesthesia as part of comprehensive dental hygiene care. The application of this knowledge will occur in DHYG 4300C and DHYG 4400C .