DS2002 - Biological Sciences for Dentistry 2 (Pathology and Pharmacology)

Credit points:	03
Year:	2010
Student Contribution Band:	Band 3
Administered by:	School of Medicine & Dentistry

This subject will examine the pathological basis of oral disease, and will review the pathophysiology of systemic and neurological disorders and the ways in which they may impact on oral health. There will be a significant focus on inflammatory processes and infectious disease, with a broader overview of other disorders, including malignancy, cardiovascular disease, haematopoeitic disorders, respiratory disease, gastrointestinal disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, and neurological and endocrine disorders. This subject will also focus on the pharmacological basis of therapeutics, particularly the aspects of clinical pharmacology pertinent to dental practice. There will be a major focus on analgesia, local and general anaesthesia, antibiotic therapy and anxiolytic agents. A broad overview of systemic and neuropharmacology will be included, covering the drugs that are commonly prescribed for a range of conditions, including cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, and neurological conditions. There will be a focus on the potential for drug-drug interactions, and how drugs prescribed for other conditions may impact on the management of the dental patient. The module will also include a basic overview of pharmacokinetics, and toxicological issues that are pertinent to dental practice. The module will also address the legal issues associated with drug prescribing, and dental prescription writing.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand the physiological processes associated with drug administration;
• Describe the pharmacological actions of drugs commonly encountered in dental care;
• Describe the legal aspects (including prescribing) of the usage of pharmacological agents;
• Understand the pathophysiological basis of oral disease, as well as how systemic disorders may impact on oral health;
• Understand how oral disease, in particular infectious and inflammatory disorders, can impact on systemic health.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to find and access information using appropriate media and technologies;
• The ability to reflect on and evaluate learning, and to learn independently in a self directed manner;
• The ability to speak and write clearly, coherently and creatively;
• The ability to generate, calculate, interpret and communicate numerical information in ways appropriate to a given discipline or discourse;
• The ability to work individually and independently;
• The ability to use online technologies effectively and ethically.

Prerequisites:	DS1002 BM1071 BM1072
Corequisites:	DS2004

Availabilities
Cairns, Internal, Study Period 2
Census Date 26-Aug-2010
Coordinator:	Professor Alan Nimmo
Contact hours:	39 hours lectures 13 hours tutorials 39 hours practicals
Assessment:	end of semester exam (60%); quizzes or tests (40%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.