Dental Hygiene Study Club (Jan. 21)

Ridge Periodontics/AAP Dental Hygiene Study Club

Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at Ridge Periodontics Maplewood office--3033 Hazelwood St.; Maplewood, MN; 55109.

The Ridge Periodontics/AAP Dental Hygiene Study Club provides an opportunity for dental hygienists to:

  • Get to know Ridge Periodontics and the services we can offer your patients
  • Explore the latest trends in periodontal care
  • Learn innovative techniques from expert AAP-curated speakers
  • Engage in interactive discussions
  • Strengthen your local professional network

1 hour Continuing Dental Education Credit

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

The topic for our session on January 21, 2025, will be "Smoking, Vaping, Cannabis Use, and Oral Health."  The meeting will start at 5:30 with dinner provided by Stonehouse Catering.

It is well-established that cigarette smoking is a significant risk factor in the development of gingivitis, periodontitis, and peri-implant diseases. While cigarette smoking rates have been declining among both adults and high school-aged children over the past 25 years, the use of e-cigarettes or vaping as well as the state-wide legalization of cannabis has increased these methods of consumption rapidly over the last decade.

E-cigarettes are disproportionately used by young people. Current epidemiologic studies suggest that while only 2.8% of adults use e-cigarettes, 10.5% of middle school students and 27.5% of high school students report using e-cigarettes at least once in the last month. Given the high prevalence of e-cigarette use amongst young people and the lack of significant scientific evidence on the risks that they may pose to oral health, it is critical that dental professionals are aware of current patterns of use and the risks that tobacco products, including cigarettes and vaping products, pose to oral health.

Cannabis is the most frequently used psychotropic drug in the United States and the second-most commonly used mind-altering substance, after alcohol. In 2018, more than 11.8 million young adults report marijuana use in the last year and 35.7% of 12th graders reported using marijuana in the last 12 months. Cannabis smoking is associated with periodontal diseases, xerostomia, leukoplakia, and an increased risk of mouth and neck cancers. While cannabis use remains illegal federally, states increasingly are legalizing cannabis use, and dental healthcare providers must understand the consequences of cannabis use on oral health and the implications of providing treatment to individuals who report cannabis use.

Learning objectives:

  • Review the current scientific evidence related to the effects of tobacco, nicotine, and cannabis use on periodontal, peri-implant, and oral health.
  • Understand current epidemiologic trends in cigarette, e-cigarette, and cannabis use in the United States and worldwide.
    Communicate the challenges in providing dental care to patients who are current or former, cigarette, e-cigarette, and cannabis users
  • Enable dental professionals to best counsel their patients on tobacco cessation, including the risks and/or benefits of using e-cigarettes as a tobacco cessation tool.
  • Assess the current rates of tobacco and cannabis use and the potential future impact of these rates on future outcomes for oral and overall health.