Although conventional cigarette smoking among young adults has declined markedly over the past several decades, there has been a substantial increase in the use of vaporizing devices. While originally designed as alternative delivery vehicles for nicotine in place of tobacco, advances in technology and lack of strict regulation has given rise to the use of these devices as delivery vehicles for a variety of substances, especially cannabis. Unfortunately, very little information is available about the safety of the active and inactive ingredients present in products used for vaping. This program will provide participants with an overview of cannabis, vaping, and their overall systemic adverse effects. Special emphasis will be given to the oral complications associated with vaping, as well as treatment planning strategies for patients who vape.

Upon successful completion of this program, participants will be able to:

• Describe the pharmacology of cannabis, including its mechanism of action, routes of administration, and available formulations.
• Compare smoking and vaping as alternate delivery systems for introducing drugs like nicotine and cannabis into the lungs.
• Describe the oral and systemic complications encountered by patients who vape.
• Explain currently available treatment strategies and patient care planning techniques for patients who vape cannabis.

The challenge faced by all clinicians today is to provide safe and effective dental treatment to our medically complex patients. However, dental professionals find themselves practicing in a marketplace awash in direct to consumer advertising of prescription drugs and in the midst of an explosion of new drug entities over the last several years. Thus, many dental professionals may find it challenging to stay up to date with the latest prescribing trends in disease state management. This program will provide an overview of those frequently prescribed brand name medications whose actions, side effects, contraindications and potential drug interactions may have the greatest impact on dental therapy.

Upon successful completion of this program, participants will be able to:

• Identify the most frequently prescribed FDA-approved brand name medications for the treatment of systemic illnesses.
• Discuss the basic mechanisms of action, potential adverse reactions, drug interactions and contraindications of these medications.
• Explain the clinical dental considerations of these medications and their potential impact on dental therapy.
• Describe patient management strategies essential for successful treatment planning and proper care of our medically complex dental patients.