International and American associations for dental research
Alexandria, VA, USA
The AADR held the "Oral Health Effects of Tobacco Products: Science and Regulatory Policy" meeting in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Papers resulting from this conference are published in the latest issue of Advances in Dental Research, a electronic supplement to the Journal of Dental Research (JDR).
As the primary route, the oral cavity is particularly sensitive to harmful exposure from tobacco products.
The use of tobacco products has been linked to oral cancer, periodontal disease and tooth loss.
During the conference, researchers also presented data on the effect of tobacco use on immunity and the oral microbiome .
This conference was especially timely given the rapidly evolving landscape of tobacco use in the United States, which is simultaneously seeing the lowest level of adult cigarette smoking since 1965 and the emergence of new nicotine delivery systems, such as cigarettes electronics, for which little is currently known about long-term health effects.
The goal of the conference was to draw the attention of regulators, public health professionals, healthcare providers, researchers, and ultimately the public to the oral health effects of tobacco products, with the hope that the information presented will promote cessation or deter initiation among current or potential tobacco users, respectively.
The Oral Health Effects of Tobacco Products: The Science and Regulatory Policy conference reviewed the effects that tobacco products have on oral health, providing a solid scientific foundation that included the importance of oral health on overall health. .
The conference, summarized in these proceedings, was organized into five sessions focused on FDA-regulated tobacco products: Perspectives on Tobacco Regulatory Policy, Tobacco Products (Inhaled and Non-Inhaled), Unburned Tobacco (Smokeless Tobacco) , Nicotine delivery systems and in vitro experimental models, standards and methods, and concluded with a discussion of the role of dentistry in tobacco cessation.
"Although the adverse effects of conventional tobacco products on various oral health outcomes are well established, the oral health implication of new tobacco products such as electronic nicotine delivery systems remains unknown," said guest editor Scott Tomar, University of Florida, Gainesville, UNITED STATES.
"There is a strong need for research on the clinical and public health effects of these products and their underlying mechanisms, and an urgent need for behavioral and regulatory science research on conventional and novel tobacco products."
Conference summary and next steps Each of the conference presentations highlighted research gaps in tobacco and oral health. Although the adverse effects of conventional tobacco products on various oral health outcomes are well established and there are promising new lines of research, much is still unknown about the oral health implication of new tobacco products such as ENDS. There is a great need for research on the clinical and public health effects of these products and their underlying mechanisms. Additionally, there is an urgent need for behavioral and regulatory scientific research on conventional and novel tobacco products. Finally, the Food and Drug Administration is urged to consider the oral health implications in its regulation of tobacco products and their marketing, especially for new nicotine delivery systems with their direct impact on the oral cavity. |
