Cannabinoids - What the Practicing Dentist Needs to Know

by Dr. Mark Donaldson

https://www.dentaltown.com/onlinece/details/1176/cannabinoids-what-the-practicing-dentist-needs-to-know

Have you ever had to face the prospect of treating a medically-complex patient? Have you ever had a patient needing treatment for a dental emergency who has more than one underlying chronic disease? What about your patients of record who are on more than five medications? Now what if these same patients are also experimenting with cannabinoids? How does the use of marijuana change your treatment plan?

Drug abuse remains a major problem in our society. Marijuana is the most commonly used federally illegal drug in the United States with 48.2 million people, or about 18% of Americans, having used it at least once in 2023. Recent research estimated that approximately 3 in 10 people who use marijuana have marijuana use disorder. For people who begin using marijuana before age 18, the risk of developing marijuana use disorder is even greater.

Providing dental care to anxious, fearful and medically-complex patients continues to be a major challenge facing dentists. Now more than ever, dental professionals are faced with the additional challenge of treating these patients’ oral health needs in the face of recently deregulated cannabinoids and potential illicit drug use such that the simple approach to, “drilling and filling” has just been cranked up a few more notches. 

If substance abuse and dependence affects one in ten North Americans, this means one in ten of your patients. This interactive program looks at some of these most challenging patients, their most common negative sequelae due to cannabinoid use and the management of these patients with a particular focus on the dental realm. Case studies will augment the delivery of key points and a problem-based learning approach is encouraged so that each participant’s questions are addressed. Most importantly, you will learn directly applicable strategies to successfully treat these medically-complex patients on Monday morning. After all, our goal is to make sure all dental appointments are not just successful for your patient, but also for you and your staff.

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

                            
• Discuss the four main challenges of medically complex dental patients.
                                        
• Understand the concept of risk and how to select and de-select appropriate patients.
                                        
• Describe the risk factors to consider when treating patients who use cannabinoids.
                                        
• Recognize some of the oral signs of cannabinoid use and how to better manage these patients.
                                        
• Learn how to help make all of your appointments successful for you, your Team and your patients.

Dr. Mark Donaldson holds a baccalaureate degree from the University of British Columbia (UBC) and a Doctorate in clinical pharmacy from the University of Washington. He is currently the associate principal of clinical pharmacy for Vizient's Advisory Solutions in Whitefish, Montana. He serves as a clinical professor at the University of Montana's Department of Pharmacy and a clinical associate professor at OHSU's School of Dentistry, with affiliate faculty status at UBC. Donaldson has 28 years of experience delivering international lectures on dental pharmacology and therapeutics. He has published extensively and serves on the editorial board for the Journal of the American Dental Association. Additionally, he is board certified in healthcare management and has been recognized for his contributions, receiving the AGD's "Dr. Thaddeus V. Weclew Award" in 2016 and the Canadian Dental Association's "Special Friend of Canadian Dentistry Award" in 2019 for his exceptional support and service to the dental profession.