You might know that one person who really loves their mints. But it turns out, those could be edible cannabis, not Altoids or Tic Tacs! And because so many different forms are available today, it’s almost impossible to know who could be using cannabis. So, why is this important to dentistry? To answer that question, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Tom Viola to explain some of the direct and indirect impacts, as well as some of the ethical dilemmas of cannabis. To learn what dental school didn’t teach you about cannabis, listen to Episode 332 of The Best Practices Show!
Main Takeaways:
Cannabis is still an unknown, and its use has an impact on dentistry.
There are many myths and misconceptions about cannabis.
Cannabis actually raises your blood pressure and heart rate.
In high enough doses, cannabis can increase anxiety.
Cannabis can cause immunosuppression and increased risk of infection.
Patients who use cannabis are more resistant to the effects of anesthetics.
Because cannabis isn’t standardized, we don’t know how much a patient may be taking.
Cannabis can span any age group. It’s not just younger people taking it.
Always ask patients about their cannabis use.
Snippets:
0:00 Introduction.
4:20 Dr. Viola’s background.
6:10 Pharmacology Declassified.
7:56 Why cannabis is a big issue for dentists.
13:48 What cannabis is.
16:34 Dentists need to ask patients about cannabis use.
21:56 Does cannabis really relieve pain at the levels we think?
23:16 Training around cannabis in dental offices.
25:18 Some problems with cannabis.
28:49 The future of cannabis in dentistry.
32:17 Different dosage forms.
39:35 Ethical dilemmas.
42:35 Appeals from Dr. Viola.
46:10 Last thoughts.
48:54 Dr. Viola’s contact information and conclusion.
Reach Out to Dr. Viola:
Dr. Viola’s website: https://www.tomviola.com/
Dr. Viola’s email: tom@tomviola.com
Dr. Viola’s Instagram: @pharmacologydeclassified https://www.instagram.com/pharmacologydeclassified/?hl=en
Dr. Viola’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tomviolarph
Dr. Viola’s podcasts: https://www.tomviola.com/category/podcasts/
ACT U Master Class: https://www.actdental.com/master-classes
Dr. Tom Viola Bio:
THOMAS A. VIOLA, R.Ph., C.C.P.
With over 30 years of experience as a pharmacist, educator, speaker, and author, Tom Viola, R.Ph., C.C.P., has earned his reputation as the go-to specialist for delivering quality continuing education content through his informative, engaging presentations. Tom’s sellout programs provide an overview of the most prevalent oral and systemic diseases and the most frequently prescribed drugs used in their treatment. Special emphasis is given to dental considerations and strategies for effective patient care planning.
As a clinical educator, Tom is a member of the faculty of 12 dental professional degree programs and has received several awards for Outstanding Teacher of the Year. Tom instructs dental hygiene students and practice dental hygienists in pharmacology and local anesthesia in preparation for national board exams. As a published writer, Tom is well-known internationally for his contributions to several professional journals in the areas of pharmacology, pain management, and local anesthesia. In addition, Tom has served as a contributor, chapter author, and peer reviewer for several pharmacology textbooks. As a professional speaker, Tom has presented continuing education courses to dental professionals internationally since 2001. Meeting planners agree that Tom is their choice to educate audiences within this specialty.
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