Oral Health Effects of Tobacco and Tobacco Products: Disease Recognition, Oral Cancer, and Cessation

At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the chemical constituents, pharmacology, and systemic and oral physiological effects of combustible, smokeless, and electronic nicotine delivery products.

2. Recognize oral soft- and hard-tissue manifestations of tobacco use, including oral potentially malignant disorders, cancer, and the significance of red, white, and mixed lesions.

3. Evaluate oral lesion features, biopsy and referral indications, and diagnostic and treatment pathways for oral cancer.

This course prepares dental professionals to recognize and respond to the oral and systemic health effects of tobacco and nicotine products. It covers combustible, smokeless, electronic, and newer nicotine-delivery products; their chemical and physiological effects; benign, reactive, and potentially malignant oral findings; oral cancer screening; biopsy and referral decisions; cancer-treatment considerations; and evidence-based tobacco-cessation counseling and referral. Learners will strengthen their ability to obtain a complete product history, conduct a systematic oral examination, identify findings that require follow-up or prompt referral, and support cessation within professional scope.

Commercial tobacco and nicotine use remains common, while patterns of use continue to shift toward e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and other noncombustible products. This course addresses inconsistent use of complete tobacco and nicotine histories, systematic oral examinations, timely biopsy and referral pathways, and routine cessation support in dental practice.

For dental hygienists, biopsy, cancer-treatment, and pharmacotherapy content is intended for recognition, education, documentation, support, and referral and does not expand legal scope. Credit toward the New York dentist requirement is available only when the course is offered by a continuing education sponsor approved for New York State dental continuing education.

State requirement:

This course satisfies the one-time 2-hour oral health effects of tobacco and tobacco products continuing education requirement for dentists in New York State.