JoAnn Gurenlian, RDH, MS, PhD, AAFAAOM, FADHA, is the director of education, research, and advocacy for the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and professor emerita of the Department of Dental Hygiene, at Idaho State University in Pocatello. She is also a member of the Dimensions of Dental Hygiene Editorial Advisory Board.
As more states legalize some form of marijuana use, oral health professionals need to be knowledgeable about cannabis use, the various forms available, and its effects on oral and systemic health.
Doctoral-level education is necessary to prepare dental hygienists to be health care providers who will challenge prevailing thinking, test theories, lead interprofessional teams, and develop policies to improve oral health.