Oral Health in the Age of Cannabis: Pharmacology, Implications and Dental Management.

INTRODUCTION

Cannabis continues to garner attention due to increasing legalization globally and its potential effects on public health. Consequently, dental practitioners should be familiar with its impacts on oral health and how to properly manage these impacts in the clinical setting. This review explores the connection between cannabis use and oral health, providing insights into national usage trends, cannabis pharmacology, potential oral health impacts and important considerations for patient management.

METHODS

We compiled data on self-reported cannabis use from the Canadian Cannabis Survey (2017-2024) and analyzed changes in cannabis use over time with a 2-tailed z-test. We performed a scoping literature review using multiple databases to examine cannabis pharmacology, dentally relevant drug interactions, oral health effects and dental management strategies.

RESULTS

Following legalization in 2018, cannabis use in Canada increased by 3.8 percentage points (p < 0.001). Although cannabis may have some dentally relevant drug interactions, the published data are not conclusive, and further investigation is required. Cannabis may be associated with xerostomia, may promote caries development, may negatively affect the periodontium and may increase the incidence of oral lesions. We used this information to develop a framework to guide clinicians in assessing and treating patients with a history of cannabis use.

CONCLUSION

The survey findings suggest that cannabis use is on the rise in Canada, with implications for the provision of dental care. Cannabis may alter the effects of drugs used in the dental setting and may be associated with an increased incidence of oral health issues. The dental management strategies suggested here are intended as an informative reference for clinicians. Additional research is needed to further elucidate the long-term effects of cannabis on oral health, its drug interactions and its potential medicinal applications in dentistry.