Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
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Describe current vaping trends and associated oral health risks.
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Identify common oral manifestations linked to e-cigarette use.
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Explain the dental hygienist’s role as a frontline tobacco cessation advocate.
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Apply behavior change frameworks to guide chairside vaping discussions.
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Implement brief, workflow-friendly cessation interventions in clinical practice.
Vaping is increasingly perceived as a safer alternative to traditional tobacco use, particularly among adolescents and young adults. However, emerging evidence demonstrates significant oral and systemic health risks associated with e-cigarette use. Dental hygienists are uniquely positioned to identify vaping behaviors early, connect clinical findings to risk, and support behavior change through brief, patient-centered interventions.
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This course reframes vaping as a preventable oral health and public health issue and equips dental hygienists with evidence-based strategies to address nicotine use within existing clinical workflows. Emphasis is placed on readiness-based counseling, motivational interviewing principles, ethical prevention responsibilities, and practical advocacy both within and beyond the operatory.