The ADA took a new, more aggressive stance against vaping and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) on December 16, calling for a total ban on any products that have not been approved for tobacco cessation purposes by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The interim policy mirrors similar action taken by the American Medical Association in November as a step to ensure the health and safety of consumers.
"A ban such as this would ensure patient safety while allowing us to explore the impact of vaping products on oral health," said ADA President Chad Gehani, DDS, in a statement.
The ADA's policy calls on U.S. and state lawmakers to take legal, regulatory, or legislative actions to ban all electronic cigarettes and vaping products that have not been approved by the FDA to assist people in reducing their tobacco use. The policy also calls for approved products to be made available by prescription only.
Secondly, the policy advocates for research funding to study the safety and effectiveness of e-cigarettes and vaping products for tobacco-cessation purposes and their effects on the oral cavity.
"While the long-term oral health effects of vaping are under scientific review, as health professionals we must be prudent in protecting consumers from potentially harmful products," Gehani stated.
This is the most aggressive step the ADA has taken on vaping since it issued a statement in October opposing the use of e-cigarettes or vaping nicotine, due to the growing number of vaping-related injury reports that have emerged in recent months.
Previously, the ADA advocated for the development of a body of scientific research examining the oral effects of both tobacco and nontobacco nicotine delivery products as part of the ADA policy on tobacco use.
In September, the ADA House of Delegates passed a resolution stipulating that the word "vaping" and any other alternative nicotine delivery systems be added to the existing association policy focused on tobacco-use prevention, research, and regulation.
