ADEA eLearn
Cannabis Use & Dentistry Part 2: Ethics, Communication, and Clinical Practice
Includes a Live Web Event on 03/05/2026 at 12:00 PM (EST)
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Cannabis use continues to present complex clinical, ethical, and communication challenges in dental practice. Building on the scientific foundation established in Part 1, this session focuses on practical application in real-world settings. Participants will explore ethical decision-making frameworks related to informed consent, impairment, confidentiality, and professional responsibility. The program will also examine communication strategies, including motivational interviewing and stigma-reduction approaches, to support patient-centered discussions about cannabis use, including motivational interviewing and stigma-reduction approaches. Risk management and documentation considerations will be integrated throughout to help clinicians navigate these scenarios safely and confidently.
Learning Objectives
- Apply ethical and professional decision-making principles when managing patients who use cannabis, including considerations of informed consent, impairment, and confidentiality.
- Utilize evidence-informed communication strategies—including motivational interviewing and stigma-reduction approaches— to engage patients in discussions about cannabis use, including motivational interviewing and stigma-reduction approaches.
- Incorporate risk management and documentation practices to support safe, patient-centered clinical care in cases involving cannabis use.
Original Release Date: Mar. 5, 2026
Expiration Date: Mar. 5, 2029
Questions? Contact learn@adea.org
Disclaimer
The purpose of this presentation is to educate and inform. This is not a substitute for professional care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests at this presentation express their own experience, opinions and conclusions. Guest statements do not express the viewpoint of ADEA. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity or therapy should not be construed as an ADEA endorsement. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at CCEPR.ada.org.
CE Information
The American Dental Education Association is an ADA CERP-recognized Provider.
An evaluation form is available to participants after the conclusion of the live webinar. To earn continuing education (CE) credit for participation in the webinar, the online evaluation must be completed in full by Mar. 06, 2029. After completing the evaluation, webinar participants can print and save the CE Verification Form.
ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.
The American Dental Education Association designates this activity for 1.0 continuing education credit.
All speakers agree that neither they nor members of their immediate family have any financial relationships with commercial entities that may be relevant to their presentation.
Manish K Bhagania, B.D.S., M.D.S.
Clinical Associate Professor in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine
Dr. Manish Bhagania is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and educator whose work bridges clinical care, public health, and academic leadership. He currently serves as Chair of the Section on Addiction Education of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) and is Clinical Associate Professor in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine.
His teaching and scholarship emphasize preparing future dental professionals to manage substance use and its implications in dental practice, particularly through simulation-based medical emergency training and curriculum innovation. Dr. Bhagania has published on topics related to access to care, perioperative management, and addiction education, and he has contributed to national and international dialogues on advancing dental education.
He has presented at recent ADEA Annual Meetings, including short talks in 2024 and 2025, and has an accepted proposal for the 2026 ADEA Annual Session in Montreal. His public presentations have included Management of Pain in Dentistry and Medical Emergencies in Dental Settings.
Dr. Bhagania is leading this three-part ADEA webinar series and is currently working with JADA on supplementary article series exploring cannabis use and dentistry — with the goal of equipping dental educators and clinicians with evidence-based strategies for patient care, ethical decision-making, and educational policy development.
He is deeply committed to service, interdisciplinary collaboration, and supporting the profession in addressing the intersection of oral health, addiction, and public health.
Speaker agrees that neither they nor members of their immediate family have any financial relationships with commercial entities that may be relevant to their presentation.
Jennifer Cullen, RDH, M.P.H.
Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of the Division of Dental Hygiene
University of Michigan School of Dentistry
Jennifer Cullen is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of the Division of Dental Hygiene at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. She lectures in and directs several didactic and clinical courses in the undergraduate, degree completion and graduate DH programs. She regularly provides professional development for faculty on equity-focused teaching practices, online teaching and learning and leadership development. Prior to being division director, she was director of the U-M DH Degree Completion Program for eight years. Her professional and research interests include online education, special patients, behavioral-oral health connection and strengths-based leadership. She is a member of the American Dental Hygienists' Association and the American Dental Education Association.
Speaker agrees that neither they nor members of their immediate family have any financial relationships with commercial entities that may be relevant to their presentation.
L. Brendan Young, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Director of Behavioral Science and Associate Professor of Preventive and Community Dentistry
The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics
Dr. Brendan Young, Ph.D., M.B.A., is the Director of Behavioral Science and Associate Professor of Preventive and Community Dentistry at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. He holds degrees from Duke University, Tulane University, The University of West Florida, and a Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Iowa. He completed a postdoctoral research fellowship with the Veterans Health Administration’s Office of Rural Health.
Dr. Young is co-author of Communication Skills for Dental Health Care Providers, published by Quintessence. At the University of Iowa he serves as course director for all predoctoral courses in interprofessional communication and patient-provider communication.
Dr. Young has researched substance use disorders for more than 20 years, publishing his work in Addiction Research & Theory, Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, Addictive Disorders & Their Treatment, and Substance Use & Misuse. Dr. Young serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Dental Education and is currently the secretary of ADEA’s Section on Behavioral Sciences.
Speaker agrees that neither they nor members of their immediate family have any financial relationships with commercial entities that may be relevant to their presentation.
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