Karen M. Portillo, RDH, MSDH, taught
several years in graduate and undergraduate dental
hygiene education. She is now a public health dental
hygienist in a nonprofit school-based dental sealant
program. Portillo has published and presented nationally
on topics concerning public health issues. She can be
reached at: karen portillo 0614 @gmail.com.
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.
Understanding the Correlation While the relationship is not causal, the presence of periodontal inflammation may impact the cognitive degeneration associated with Alzheimer’s disease.