Chapter 01: Information Sources, Regulatory Agencies, Drug Legislation, and
Prescription Writing
Haveles: Applied Pharmacology for the Dental Hygienist, 7th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Knowledge of pharmacology aids the dental professional in:
a. obtaining a patient’s health history.
b. administering drugs in the office.
c. handling emergency situations.
d. lifelong learning.
e. all of the above.
ANS: E
Correct: All of the choices are true.
Incorrect choices: Because many of our patients are being treated with drugs, knowledge of
pharmacology helps in understanding and interpreting patients’ responses to health history
questions. Knowledge of the therapeutic and adverse effects of medications obviously helps in
their proper administration in the office. Emergency situations may be caused by drugs or
treated by drugs; thus, knowledge of pharmacology is of great help, especially because a rapid
response is sometimes required. A clear understanding of the concepts of drug action, drug
handling by the body, and drug interactions will allow the dental practitioner to make proper
judgments and grasp the concepts relevant to new drug therapies on the market.
REF: Role of the Dental Hygienist | pp. 3-4 OBJ: 1
2. Which of the following statements is true regarding planning appointments?
a. Whether or not patients are taking medication for systemic diseases is of little
consequence in the dental office.
b. Asthmatic patients should have dental appointments in the morning.
c. Diabetic patients usually have fewer problems with a morning appointment
compared with afternoon appointments.
d. Both b and c are true.
ANS: C
Correct: Diabetic patients usually have relatively fewer problems with a morning
appointment.
Incorrect choices: Asthmatic patients should have afternoon appointments. Patients taking
medication for systemic diseases may require special handling in the dental office.
REF: Role of the Dental Hygienist (Appointment Scheduling) | p. 3
OBJ: 1
3. Nutritional or herbal supplements:
a. carry the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for disease states.
b. are not drugs.
c. can cause adverse effects.
d. will not interact with other drugs the patient may be taking.
ANS: C
, Correct: Nutritional or herbal supplements are quite capable of causing adverse effects.
Incorrect choices: The majority of nutritional or herbal supplements do not carry FDA
approval for treating disease states. These supplements are drugs and can cause adverse
effects and interact with different drugs.
REF: Role of the Dental Hygienist (Nutritional or Herbal Supplements) | pp. 3-4
OBJ: 1
4. Which type of drug name usually begins with a lowercase letter?
a. Brand name
b. Code name
c. Generic name
d. Trade name
ANS: C
Correct: Before any drug is marketed, it is given a generic name that becomes the “official”
name of the drug. Each drug is assigned only one generic name selected by the U.S. Adopted
Name Council, and the name is not capitalized.
Incorrect choices: The brand name is equivalent to the trade name and is capitalized. Although
the brand name is technically the name of the company marketing the product, this term is
often used interchangeably with the trade name. The code name is the initial term used within
a pharmaceutical company to refer to a drug while it is undergoing investigation and is often a
combination of capital letters and numbers, the letters representing an abbreviation of the
company name.
REF: Drug Names | p. 5 OBJ: 3
5. A drug’s generic name is selected by the:
a. pharmaceutical company manufacturing it.
b. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
c. U.S. Adopted Name Council.
d. Federal Patent Office.
ANS: C
Correct: Each drug is assigned only one generic name (e.g., ibuprofen). It is selected by the
United States Adopted Name Council.
Incorrect choices: The generic name is not selected by the FDA or the Federal Patent Office.
The pharmaceutical company manufacturing the drug clearly has an influence on the generic
name given its drug, but the final decision is not the company’s.
REF: Drug Names | p. 5 OBJ: 4
6. Which of the following is true concerning generic and trade names of drugs?
a. A drug may only have one generic name and one trade name.
b. A drug may only have one generic name, but it may have several trade names.
c. A drug may have several generic names, but it may only have one trade name.
d. A drug may have several generic names and several trade names.
ANS: B
Correct: Each drug has only one generic name but may have several trade names.
, Incorrect choices: For each drug, there is only one generic name. It is not capitalized, and it
becomes the “official” name of the drug. The pharmaceutical company discovering the drug
gives the drug a trade name. The trade name is protected by the Federal Patent Law for 20
years from the earliest claimed filing date, plus patent term extensions. Although the brand
name is technically the name of the company marketing the product, it is often used
interchangeably with the trade name.
REF: Drug Names | p. 4 OBJ: 3
7. Which of the following is the most common reference book in the dental office?
a. United States Pharmacopeia-Drug Information (USP DI)
b. Physicians’ Desk Reference (PDR)
c. Mosby’s Dental Drug Reference
d. Lexi-Comp’s Drug Information Handbook for Dentistry
ANS: B
Correct: The PDR is the most common reference book in the dental office because of its
historically inexpensive price. Information provided comes directly from the manufacturer’s
package insert.
Incorrect choices: The USP DI provides the health professional with necessary information
regarding basic pharmacology and pharmacokinetics, dosing, adverse reactions, and drug
interactions. Mosby’s Dental Drug Reference provides access to information on drugs
commonly taken by patients. Lexi-Comp’s Drug Information Handbook for Dentistry contains
concise lists of drug attributes and sections relevant to dentistry for each drug.
REF: Box 1-2: Pharmacologic References and Resources Recommended for the Dental Office | p. 4
OBJ: 2
8. How many years must pass after a drug patent expires before other drug companies can
market the same compound as a generic drug?
a.20 years
b.17 years
c.7 years
d.0 years
ANS: D
Correct: Once a drug patent expires, competing companies may immediately market the same
compound in generic form.
Incorrect choices: After 17 years, the patent of the original drug expires, and other companies
can market the same compound under a generic name.
REF: Drug Names (Drug Substitution) | p. 5 OBJ: 4
9. Two drug formulations that produce similar concentrations in the blood and tissues after drug
administration are termed _____ equivalent.
a. chemically
b. biologically
c. therapeutically
ANS: B
, Correct: Biologic equivalence refers to identical pharmacokinetic parameters of two drug
formulations (bioequivalence, for short).
Incorrect choices: Chemical equivalence indicates that two formulations of a drug meet the
chemical and physical standards established by the regulatory agencies. Therapeutic
equivalence means that two formulations produce the same therapeutic effects over the same
duration.
REF: Drug Names (Drug Substitution) | p. 5 OBJ: 4
10. The federal body that determines whether a drug is considered a controlled substance and to
which schedule it belongs is the:
a.Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
b.Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
c.Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
d.United States Pharmacopeia (USP).
ANS: C
Correct: The DEA regulates the manufacture and distribution of substances with abuse
potential. Hence prescriber DEA numbers must appear on prescriptions for controlled
substances.
Incorrect choices: The FDA does not have any special powers in regard to drugs of abuse. The
FTC regulates commerce and advertising claims of foods, over-the-counter (OTC) products,
and cosmetics. The USP regulates the uniformity and purity of drugs.
REF: Federal Regulations and Regulatory Agencies (Drug Enforcement Administration) | p. 5
OBJ: 5
11. Which federal regulatory body is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(DHHS)?
a.FDA
b.OTC
c.FTC
d.DEA
ANS: A
Correct: Of the legitimate agencies listed, only the FDA is part of DHHS.
Incorrect choices: OTC is a nonsense answer. It is an abbreviation for “over-the-counter” as in
medications that may be purchased without a prescription. The FTC is an independent agency
that reports to the U.S. Congress on its actions. The DEA is a part of the Department of
Justice.
REF: Federal Regulations and Regulatory Agencies (Food and Drug Administration) | p. 5
OBJ: 5
12. Which federal regulatory body regulates the trade practices of drug companies and prohibits
false advertising of foods, nonprescription drugs, and cosmetics?
a. FDA
b. FTC
c. DEA
d. OBRA
Prescription Writing
Haveles: Applied Pharmacology for the Dental Hygienist, 7th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Knowledge of pharmacology aids the dental professional in:
a. obtaining a patient’s health history.
b. administering drugs in the office.
c. handling emergency situations.
d. lifelong learning.
e. all of the above.
ANS: E
Correct: All of the choices are true.
Incorrect choices: Because many of our patients are being treated with drugs, knowledge of
pharmacology helps in understanding and interpreting patients’ responses to health history
questions. Knowledge of the therapeutic and adverse effects of medications obviously helps in
their proper administration in the office. Emergency situations may be caused by drugs or
treated by drugs; thus, knowledge of pharmacology is of great help, especially because a rapid
response is sometimes required. A clear understanding of the concepts of drug action, drug
handling by the body, and drug interactions will allow the dental practitioner to make proper
judgments and grasp the concepts relevant to new drug therapies on the market.
REF: Role of the Dental Hygienist | pp. 3-4 OBJ: 1
2. Which of the following statements is true regarding planning appointments?
a. Whether or not patients are taking medication for systemic diseases is of little
consequence in the dental office.
b. Asthmatic patients should have dental appointments in the morning.
c. Diabetic patients usually have fewer problems with a morning appointment
compared with afternoon appointments.
d. Both b and c are true.
ANS: C
Correct: Diabetic patients usually have relatively fewer problems with a morning
appointment.
Incorrect choices: Asthmatic patients should have afternoon appointments. Patients taking
medication for systemic diseases may require special handling in the dental office.
REF: Role of the Dental Hygienist (Appointment Scheduling) | p. 3
OBJ: 1
3. Nutritional or herbal supplements:
a. carry the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for disease states.
b. are not drugs.
c. can cause adverse effects.
d. will not interact with other drugs the patient may be taking.
ANS: C
, Correct: Nutritional or herbal supplements are quite capable of causing adverse effects.
Incorrect choices: The majority of nutritional or herbal supplements do not carry FDA
approval for treating disease states. These supplements are drugs and can cause adverse
effects and interact with different drugs.
REF: Role of the Dental Hygienist (Nutritional or Herbal Supplements) | pp. 3-4
OBJ: 1
4. Which type of drug name usually begins with a lowercase letter?
a. Brand name
b. Code name
c. Generic name
d. Trade name
ANS: C
Correct: Before any drug is marketed, it is given a generic name that becomes the “official”
name of the drug. Each drug is assigned only one generic name selected by the U.S. Adopted
Name Council, and the name is not capitalized.
Incorrect choices: The brand name is equivalent to the trade name and is capitalized. Although
the brand name is technically the name of the company marketing the product, this term is
often used interchangeably with the trade name. The code name is the initial term used within
a pharmaceutical company to refer to a drug while it is undergoing investigation and is often a
combination of capital letters and numbers, the letters representing an abbreviation of the
company name.
REF: Drug Names | p. 5 OBJ: 3
5. A drug’s generic name is selected by the:
a. pharmaceutical company manufacturing it.
b. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
c. U.S. Adopted Name Council.
d. Federal Patent Office.
ANS: C
Correct: Each drug is assigned only one generic name (e.g., ibuprofen). It is selected by the
United States Adopted Name Council.
Incorrect choices: The generic name is not selected by the FDA or the Federal Patent Office.
The pharmaceutical company manufacturing the drug clearly has an influence on the generic
name given its drug, but the final decision is not the company’s.
REF: Drug Names | p. 5 OBJ: 4
6. Which of the following is true concerning generic and trade names of drugs?
a. A drug may only have one generic name and one trade name.
b. A drug may only have one generic name, but it may have several trade names.
c. A drug may have several generic names, but it may only have one trade name.
d. A drug may have several generic names and several trade names.
ANS: B
Correct: Each drug has only one generic name but may have several trade names.
, Incorrect choices: For each drug, there is only one generic name. It is not capitalized, and it
becomes the “official” name of the drug. The pharmaceutical company discovering the drug
gives the drug a trade name. The trade name is protected by the Federal Patent Law for 20
years from the earliest claimed filing date, plus patent term extensions. Although the brand
name is technically the name of the company marketing the product, it is often used
interchangeably with the trade name.
REF: Drug Names | p. 4 OBJ: 3
7. Which of the following is the most common reference book in the dental office?
a. United States Pharmacopeia-Drug Information (USP DI)
b. Physicians’ Desk Reference (PDR)
c. Mosby’s Dental Drug Reference
d. Lexi-Comp’s Drug Information Handbook for Dentistry
ANS: B
Correct: The PDR is the most common reference book in the dental office because of its
historically inexpensive price. Information provided comes directly from the manufacturer’s
package insert.
Incorrect choices: The USP DI provides the health professional with necessary information
regarding basic pharmacology and pharmacokinetics, dosing, adverse reactions, and drug
interactions. Mosby’s Dental Drug Reference provides access to information on drugs
commonly taken by patients. Lexi-Comp’s Drug Information Handbook for Dentistry contains
concise lists of drug attributes and sections relevant to dentistry for each drug.
REF: Box 1-2: Pharmacologic References and Resources Recommended for the Dental Office | p. 4
OBJ: 2
8. How many years must pass after a drug patent expires before other drug companies can
market the same compound as a generic drug?
a.20 years
b.17 years
c.7 years
d.0 years
ANS: D
Correct: Once a drug patent expires, competing companies may immediately market the same
compound in generic form.
Incorrect choices: After 17 years, the patent of the original drug expires, and other companies
can market the same compound under a generic name.
REF: Drug Names (Drug Substitution) | p. 5 OBJ: 4
9. Two drug formulations that produce similar concentrations in the blood and tissues after drug
administration are termed _____ equivalent.
a. chemically
b. biologically
c. therapeutically
ANS: B
, Correct: Biologic equivalence refers to identical pharmacokinetic parameters of two drug
formulations (bioequivalence, for short).
Incorrect choices: Chemical equivalence indicates that two formulations of a drug meet the
chemical and physical standards established by the regulatory agencies. Therapeutic
equivalence means that two formulations produce the same therapeutic effects over the same
duration.
REF: Drug Names (Drug Substitution) | p. 5 OBJ: 4
10. The federal body that determines whether a drug is considered a controlled substance and to
which schedule it belongs is the:
a.Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
b.Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
c.Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
d.United States Pharmacopeia (USP).
ANS: C
Correct: The DEA regulates the manufacture and distribution of substances with abuse
potential. Hence prescriber DEA numbers must appear on prescriptions for controlled
substances.
Incorrect choices: The FDA does not have any special powers in regard to drugs of abuse. The
FTC regulates commerce and advertising claims of foods, over-the-counter (OTC) products,
and cosmetics. The USP regulates the uniformity and purity of drugs.
REF: Federal Regulations and Regulatory Agencies (Drug Enforcement Administration) | p. 5
OBJ: 5
11. Which federal regulatory body is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(DHHS)?
a.FDA
b.OTC
c.FTC
d.DEA
ANS: A
Correct: Of the legitimate agencies listed, only the FDA is part of DHHS.
Incorrect choices: OTC is a nonsense answer. It is an abbreviation for “over-the-counter” as in
medications that may be purchased without a prescription. The FTC is an independent agency
that reports to the U.S. Congress on its actions. The DEA is a part of the Department of
Justice.
REF: Federal Regulations and Regulatory Agencies (Food and Drug Administration) | p. 5
OBJ: 5
12. Which federal regulatory body regulates the trade practices of drug companies and prohibits
false advertising of foods, nonprescription drugs, and cosmetics?
a. FDA
b. FTC
c. DEA
d. OBRA
