Unit information: BUOLD Local Anaesthesia in 2014/15

Unit name	BUOLD Local Anaesthesia
Unit code	ORDSM0004
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Professor. Robb
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Bristol Dental School
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

This Unit of Teaching will be offered as an Optional Unit as part of a modular distance learning programme. The programme will allow students to build Certificate, Diploma or Masters level qualifications by combining optional 20 credit units.

The Local Anaesthesia Unit has the following three Elements and their general aims are: -

Element 1: Armamentarium for administration of local anaesthesia

a. Equipment

To provide students with a knowledge of the delivery systems and equipment available to deliver local anaesthesia

b. Clinical Pharmacology of Local Anaesthetic agents

To review and update students’ knowledge of the pharmacology of local anaesthetic agents and vasoconstrictors used in clinical dental practice. To provide students with the underpinning knowledge to provide safe and effective operative pain control during clinical dental practice

Element 2: Advanced Clinical Techniques

To introduce students to advanced local anaesthetic techniques including the use of alternative inferior alveolar nerve block techniques and the use of computerized delivery systems

Element 3: Prevention and Management of Complications of Local Anaesthesia

To provide students with the underpinning knowledge to prevent and manage overdose of local anaesthesia, failed anaesthesia and local complications.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will obtain a knowledge and understanding of the following:

• the advantages and disadvantages of local anaesthetics commonly used in clinical dentistry.
• the techniques for producing safe and effective anaesthesia for operative dental procedures.
• the principles of management of failed local anaesthesia.
• how to prevent overdose of local anaestheic agents
• how to manage overdose of local anaestheic agents
• the local and systemic complications of local anaesthetic administration and their prevention
• the local and systemic complications of local anaesthetic administration and their prevention

The student will acquire the skills and attributes necessary for:

• the administration of the Akinosi and Gow Gates inferior alveolar nerve block techniques
• the administration of local anaesthetic agents using computer controlled delivery systems
• the administration of periodontal topical anesthetic preparations
• to manage failed local anaesthesia

Teaching Information

Self directed CAL sessions 75%

Seminars with videos 5%

Medical simulator session 2%

Webinar presentations 1%

Reflecting writing 17%

Assessment Information

This Unit will have the following five summative assessments: -

1. Element 1. Online assignment (15%)

2. Element 2. A reflective case study (2 500 words) or online assignments (2 000 words) (10%)

3. Element 3. Assessment of the management of a simulated complication of local anaesthesia (10%) (This assessment is included as it is a professional requirement that dentists are required to be able to manage the complications of the drugs they administer.)

4. Element 3. A reflective case study (2 500 words) or online assignments (2 000 words) (10%)

5. A final written examination comprising Multiple Short Answer questions of 2 hours’ duration (55%)

Contribution of Element assessments to final Unit mark.

Element 1. Armamentarium for administration of local anaesthesia 40%

Element 2. Advanced Clinical Techniques 30%

Element 3. Prevention and Management of Complications of Local Anaesthesia 30%

Element 1: Armamentarium for administration of local anaesthesia (40% of Unit mark).

Formative assessment

• Online activities will provide formative assessment

Summative assessment

• Online assignments (length 2 500 words) 30% to the final Element mark.

• Written (multiple short answer and essay) assessment as part of the final Unit (combined Elements) assessment will contribute 70% of the final Element mark

Element 2: Advanced Clinical Techniques (30% of Unit mark).

Formative assessment

• Online activities will provide formative assessment

Summative assessment

• A reflective case study (2 500 words) or online assignments (2 000 words) will contribute 30% to the final Element mark

• Written (multiple short answer and essay) assessment as part of the final Unit (combined Elements) assessment will contribute 70% of the final Element mark

Element 3: Prevention and Management of Complications of Local Anaesthesia (30% of Unit mark).

Formative assessment

• Online activities will provide formative assessment

Summative assessment

• Assessment of the management of a simulated complication of local anaesthesia on the study day will contribute 30% to the final Element mark

• Reflective case studies (2 500 words) or online assignments (2 000 words) will contribute 30% to the final Element mark

• Written (multiple short answer and essay) assessment as part of the final Unit (combined Elements) assessment will contribute 50% of the final Element mark

Final combined Unit examination and contribution to constituent Element total marks

Element 1. Armamentarium for administration of local anaesthesia 70%

Element 2. Advanced Clinical Techniques 70%

Element 3. Prevention and Management of Complications of Local Anaesthesia 50%

Reading and References

Meechan JG, Robb ND, Seymour RA. Pain and Anxiety Control for the Conscious Dental patient. Oxford: Oxford University Press 1998. ISBN 0-19-262848-8

Malamed SF. Handbook of Local Anaesthesia. fifth edition. Mosby, 2008 St Louis 2004 ISBN 0-323-02449-1

Malamed SF. What’s new in Local Anaesthesia? SAAD Digest 25;4-14:2009

Pogrel MA. Permanent nerve damage from inferior alveolar nerve blocks – an update to include articane. J Calif Dent Assoc 35(4);271-273:2007

Yagiela JA. What’s new with Phentolamine Mesylate? SAAD Digest 27;3-7:2011