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Pharmacology and Pain Management Flashcards

6 cards from real ADEX practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 6 Pharmacology and Pain Management flashcards as text

  1. Which analgesic mechanism is responsible for the anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and analgesic effects of ibuprofen?

    Answer: Inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes and prostaglandin synthesis

    NSAIDs like ibuprofen inhibit COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, blocking arachidonic acid conversion to prostaglandins that mediate inflammation and pain.

  2. A patient taking warfarin requires post-operative analgesia after a dental hygiene procedure. Which analgesic is safest to recommend?

    Answer: Acetaminophen

    Acetaminophen does not inhibit platelet function or significantly affect INR, making it the safest OTC analgesic for patients on anticoagulant therapy.

  3. Which drug interaction should a dental hygienist be aware of when a patient reports taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)?

    Answer: Avoid epinephrine in local anesthetic; use plain mepivacaine

    MAOIs inhibit catecholamine breakdown, and epinephrine can cause dangerous hypertensive crisis; plain anesthetics without vasoconstrictors are recommended.

  4. Which antibiotic is the first-line prophylaxis recommendation for patients with cardiac conditions requiring infective endocarditis (IE) prevention before dental procedures?

    Answer: Amoxicillin 2 g orally 30–60 minutes before the procedure

    The AHA recommends amoxicillin 2 g orally 30–60 minutes before high-risk dental procedures as the first-line IE prophylaxis in adults.

  5. Chlorhexidine gluconate (0.12%) mouth rinse used in the dental setting is classified as which type of agent?

    Answer: Broad-spectrum antibacterial and antiplaque agent

    Chlorhexidine is a cationic bisguanide with broad antibacterial activity; it binds to oral tissues (substantivity) and disrupts bacterial cell membranes.

  6. A patient taking bisphosphonates (e.g., alendronate) for osteoporosis should be counseled regarding which potential oral complication?

    Answer: Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ)

    Bisphosphonates inhibit osteoclast activity and impair bone remodeling, increasing the risk of osteonecrosis following invasive dental procedures.