DENTAL DIGEST The British Columbia provincial government announced new measures in February to make nicotine pouch products only available for sale by a pharmacist behind the counter. The measures were aimed at preventing the sale of flavoured nicotine pouches to youth in the province. “By limiting access to these products and ensuring they are dispensed by trained health care professionals, our goal is to prevent their misuse, especially among young people for recreational purposes,” said Adrian Dix, BC Health Minister. Nicotine pouches were previously available for sale at various retail locations like gas stations and convenience stores. Under the new restrictions, individuals wishing to purchase these products will need to consult a pharmacist, allowing for an opportunity to inform people about the health risks associated with nicotine dependency. BC joins Quebec as provinces placing such restrictions on the sale of nicotine pouches. “BC is taking proactive steps to ensure nicotine cessation products are used for their intended purpose—aiding individuals in quitting smoking and improving their overall health,” said Dix. Buccal nicotine pouches are taken orally and may contain up to 4 mg of nicotine, equivalent to the amount of nicotine BC Restricts Sale of Nicotine Pouches ADA Recommendations on Use of Lead Aprons for Dental X-Rays The American Dental Association (ADA) updated its recommendations in February on the use of lead abdominal aprons or thyroid collars on patients when conducting dental X-rays. After reviewing several published studies on radiography, an expert panel of the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs determined that lead aprons and thyroid collars are not necessary to shield patients from radiation exposure, regardless of a patient’s age or health status. The panel noted that the best available evidence suggests that using modern digital X-ray equipment and restricting the beam size to just the areas that need to be imaged can protect patients against radiation exposure to other parts of the body. The ADA also outlined best practices that dentists can use to help safeguard patients against unnecessary radiation exposure. In Canada, all radiographic equipment, accessories, installation and room design criteria should conform to federal or provincial regulations (such as Radiation Protection Acts). In the absence of existing provincial regulations in a particular jurisdiction, dentists can refer to Health Canada Safety Code 30. The 2022 edition of Safety Code 30 states in part that lead aprons are not required for routine dental X-rays but are still required for other procedures and situations (i.e., those needing to be physically assisted, those assisting them, people potentially vulnerable to radiation, etc). absorbed from 3 to 4 cigarettes. When used as intended, the pouches can be used as a nicotine-replacement therapy tool to help people reduce nicotine dependency. However, public health experts have noticed a trend of youth using nicotinecessation products recreationally. See: bit.ly/3xeqtU1 See: cda-adc.ca/en/about/position_statements/xray See: bit.ly/49X7rQw 16 | 2024 | Issue 2
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