Pharmacology Flashcards

Which of the following local anesthetics is an ester type, as opposed to an amide type?

Answer: Benzocaine

Benzocaine is an ester-type local anesthetic commonly used in topical anesthetic preparations in dentistry.

A patient on long-term corticosteroid therapy may require supplemental steroids before oral surgery due to risk of:

Answer: Adrenal suppression and crisis

Long-term corticosteroid use suppresses the adrenal glands, which may be unable to produce sufficient cortisol in response to surgical stress.

Which abbreviation on a prescription means 'twice daily'?

Answer: BID

BID stands for 'bis in die,' a Latin term meaning twice daily.

What is the clinical significance of a drug having a narrow therapeutic index?

Answer: Small dose changes can lead to toxicity or subtherapeutic levels

A narrow therapeutic index means there is little difference between the effective dose and the toxic dose, requiring careful dosing and monitoring.

Which type of drug reaction occurs when a patient develops a decreased response to a drug after repeated use?

Answer: Tolerance

Tolerance is a reduced drug effect with continued use, requiring higher doses to achieve the original therapeutic response.

Fluoride used therapeutically in dentistry works primarily by:

Answer: Incorporating into enamel hydroxyapatite to form fluorapatite, increasing resistance to acid

Fluoride replaces hydroxyl ions in hydroxyapatite to form fluorapatite, which is more resistant to acid dissolution by bacterial byproducts.

Chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse used in dentistry is classified as a:

Answer: Broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent

Chlorhexidine gluconate is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent that disrupts bacterial cell membranes and is used to control plaque and gingivitis.