CDA Essentials 2019 • Volume 6 • Issue 3

N ews and E vents 23 Issue 3 | 2019 | VAPING 101 FOR DENTISTS Protecting Patient Health The long-term health effects of vaporizers are not yet known, but the use of these devices is on the rise among adults and youth in Canada. In the coming years, dental health professionals will play an important role in educating patients about the oral health and other risks of vaping. In its position statement, CDA advises against smoking tobacco due to the risks that smoking poses to individual oral and general health. The Association is currently preparing a position statement specific to nicotine vaping and the general use of vaping products. In the meantime, CDA is providing dentists with resources and information to keep the conversation open between patients and practitioners. How Vaping Works Most vaping devices use electrical power from a battery to heat a liquid solution. The heat causes the solution to become vaporized. The vapour then condenses into an aerosol, which is breathed in by the user through a mouthpiece in the vaping device (see page 25). Vaping Devices There are two kinds of vaping devices: • Open , which means they can be refilled. • Closed , which means either the whole product, or the part that holds the vaping substances, can’t be refilled. Vaping devices are available in many shapes and sizes and can sometimes look like USB drives or pens. The amount of substance exposure (including nicotine) when a person vapes can be affected by: • Device battery power • Type of vaping device • Device settings • Combination of internal components • Type of vaping liquid and amount of nicotine • User behaviour patterns and experience with vaping