With the legalization of marijuana (Cannabis) behind us, it’s important to know how the drug can affect your dental appointment.
The BC Dental Association has released this patient bulletin to educate the population on how marijuana can negatively affect your dental appointment.
- Always be honest with your health care provider on any drugs or supplements you are taking, including marijuana.
- Marijuana can interfere with other medications we use in the dental office.
- Marijuana use can result in poor healing and effect your ability to consent to treatment. Cannabis can increase risk of bleeding and complications after procedures such as cleanings, extractions, root canals, fillings, implants. Be open with your dentist and avoid cannabis before all medical appointments.
- Cannabis come in many different strains, each with a slightly different effect on the human body. Some can be higher in levels of THS, some cause increased anxiety while others have more sedative effects. The different modes of consumption (smoking, vaping, eating) results in different effects. Smoking and vaping have a more immediate effect, while edibles can be less predictable - lasting longer, and having a stronger effect. This vast unpredictability is a good reason to avoid using it before a dental appointment
- Reschedule your appointment if you have consumed cannabis, and always be honest with your dentist.
Have more questions about marijuana and your dental appointment? Contact our Maple Ridge dentists today.
What this means for your dental visit
Tell your dental team honestly if you have used cannabis recently. It is not about judgement — it affects how local anesthetic works, raises heart rate, and can make sedation unsafe on the day. We would rather reschedule than proceed on incomplete information.
Regular use is also associated with dry mouth and a higher risk of gum problems, so consistent professional cleanings and gum disease treatment matter more, not less.
If dental anxiety is part of the picture, there are safer ways to manage it — see our approach to patient comfort and new patient information.
Or call 778-401-4001.
Related reading
Overdue for a cleaning? Learn more about dental cleaning in Maple Ridge or preventive dental care at Kanaka Creek Family Dental, or book an appointment with our Maple Ridge team.