• All chapters are thoroughly revised and updated with latest information and new drugs.
• Presentation and illustrations have been improved.
• Leading trade names and dosage forms of drugs generally prescribed by dentists are mentioned distinctively.
• The book is divided into three sections. The first section describes the general pharmacological principles involved in drug therapy, the second section deals with systemic pharmacology presents a brief account of drugs acting on various organ systems and used in the treatment of common disorders affecting these systems.
• The third section covers antimicrobials and other drugs which the dentists prescribe or administer themselves.
• Each chapter is organised systematically.
• The opening sentence defines the class of drugs, followed by their classification presented in chart form for better pictorial impression and easy remembrance.
• The ‘prototype’ approach is followed by describing the representative drug of the class.
• Matters particularly relevant to dental therapeutics have been highlighted by italicizing.
• Wherever applicable, the implications in dentistry are prominently elaborated, e.g. drugs and diseases affecting postextraction haemostasis, dental procedures in patients on corticosteroid therapy or in diabetics, oral complications of cancer chemotherapy, conscious sedation in dentistry, etc.
• Focuses on drugs of greater relevance in dentistry, such as application of analgesics and NSAIDs in dental pain, dental anaesthesia, role of each class of antimicrobials in orodental infections, prophylaxis of postextraction wound infection and endocarditis in patients at special risk are emphasized.
• Guidelines for prophylaxis of HIV infection are provided.
• Drugs and aids having specific application in dental disorders and in dental care, e.g. drugs for dental plaque, caries tooth, dentine sensitivity along with aids like dentifrices, bleaching agents, disclosing agents, etc. are described in a separate chapter, pointing out their role in current practice.
• Management of medical emergencies, like fainting, hypoglycaemia, allergic/anaphylactic reaction, angina pectoris or myocardial infarction, asthmatic attack or seizures are outlined in a new chapter, along with a list of medicines that should be kept in the emergency tray.
• Last chapter on drug interactions highlights drugs commonly encountered in dental practice, such as antiplaque drugs, anticaries drugs, desensitizing agents, dentifrices, etc.
• Care has been taken that the syllabus prescribed by the Dental Council of India is fully covered.
• New improved layout, highlighting important points, numerous figures, charts, tables, and informative boxes make the book highly user-friendly.
• Thus, the book is oriented to provide core and contemporary pharmacological knowledge which can be easily assimilated by dental students, as well as serve to help dental practitioners in treating oro-dental conditions.