An interesting study from the American Dental Association (ADA) suggests patients show up to dental visits high on marijuana or another drug. As of November 2022, recreational marijuana can be used legally in over 20 states in the U.S. and also Washington D.C., while medicinal use is legal in nearly 40 states.
Dentists now report that more patients use marijuana reguarily because it is now legal in many states. However, showing up at the dentist high on marijuana can hinder the effectiveness of the appointment. The ADA conducted two surveys of in 2022: 1) a survey of 557 dentists and 2) a survey of 1,006 consumers. The survey of dentists found 56% limit treatment to patients when they are high. Further 46% of dentists in a survey reported needing to increase anesthesia amount to treat patients as a result of the patient being high. Being under the influence of marijuana can cause patients to experience increased anxiety, paranoia and hyperactivity. Further being under the influence of marijuana can increase heart rate and has unwanted respiratory side effects. Further being high can impair judgement and potential treatment decisions a patient may decide during a visit.
In the consumer survey, it was found nearly 4 in 10 (39%) patients report using marijuana, while 25% of patients said they vaped, with 51% of those who vaped doing so with marijuana. Smoking marijuana can be harmful to oral health. For once, it can lead to being hungry due to the THC component which may not result in the healthiest food choices. Further, smoking marijuana is associated with gum disease and dry mouth. See for example the post, Gum Disease Risk Doubles With Frequent Marijuana Use. The ADA believes that further research in the future will help to better understand the associaton between oral health and marijuana use.
Patients who see a dentist and use marijuana are encouraged to discuss this with their dentist as part of their health history. The survey showed that 67% of patients who use marijuana are comfortable discussing it with their dentist. Patients who use marijuana should brush their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, visit the dentist regularly and make smart choices for their health with what they eat.
For those interested, it is possible that marijuana use can also have positive effects for those having wisdom teeth extracted, see for example the post Using Cannabinoids After Wisdom Teeth Extraction. This article iscussed who marijuana could potentially be used to replace antibiotics for wisdom teeth surgery.