Cannabis: What We Use, Why It Matters, and When It Is Prescribed (Ethics, Policy, and Practice)

Abstract

Cannabis and its bioactive compounds, specifically tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, are rapidly growing in popularity for their therapeutic applications across a variety of medical specialties, including dentistry. This narrative review aims to explore the current and future applications of cannabinoids in dentistry and the therapeutic potential, problems, and ethical issues. Cannabinoids possess analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, and neuroprotective properties that may be beneficial in the treatment of orofacial neuropathic pain, temporomandibular joint disorders, myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome, bruxism, and obstructive sleep apnea. Despite their potential benefits, the integration of cannabinoids into dental practice is limited by the absence of standardized treatment regimens, insufficient high-quality clinical evidence, safety concerns, drug-drug interactions, and ambiguously defined legal frameworks. To this, side effects such as xerostomia, increased periodontal disease susceptibility, and deranged surgical and restorative wound healing further complicate clinical use. The recent surge of interest in cannabis-based herbal medications has also brought about uncertainty among patients and dentists regarding their effect on dental health. Ethical concerns such as informed consent, pediatric use, and routes of administration further emphasize the need for careful evaluation. In the pursuit of safe, effective, and evidence-based use of cannabinoid medicines in dentistry, high-quality clinical trials, targeted professional education, and focused regulatory guidance are needed urgently.