Smokeless Tobacco Oral Pathology

Overview

5 out of 5 (1 Reviews)

Credits

1.00

Post-Assessment Questions

6

Start Date

1 Sep 2023

Last Review Date

14 Sep 2025

Expiration Date

31 Aug 2026

Estimated Time To Finish

60 Minutes

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Activity Description

Smokeless tobacco use is a significant public health concern, often misperceived as a safer alternative to cigarette smoking. This form of tobacco consumption is linked to a spectrum of oral mucosal lesions, including leukoplakia, erythroplakia, and the distinctive smokeless tobacco keratosis, which is exclusive to users of non-combustible tobacco products. These lesions may range from benign reactive changes to potentially malignant transformations, with carcinogenic risk influenced by the chemical constituents of the tobacco. Clinical recognition of smokeless tobacco–related lesions can be challenging due to their overlap with those caused by cigarette smoking and other irritants. Under-recognition or delayed diagnosis may contribute to missed opportunities for early intervention, increasing the risk of progression to oral cancer. Understanding these lesions' clinical and histopathologic features and their pathogenesis is essential for improving prevention, detection, and timely management.

Through participation in this activity, clinicians enhance their competence in identifying and evaluating oral mucosal lesions associated with smokeless tobacco use. The course provides targeted instruction on differentiating lesion types, documenting clinical findings, and determining when referral for biopsy or specialist evaluation is warranted. Participants gain skills in counseling patients on the health risks of smokeless tobacco and promoting evidence-based cessation strategies. Emphasis is placed on integrating care within an interprofessional team—collaborating with dental professionals, primary care clinicians, oral surgeons, and oncology specialists—to ensure comprehensive assessment, timely diagnosis, and coordinated management. This collaborative approach supports earlier detection of high-risk lesions, facilitates appropriate intervention, and ultimately improves patient outcomes by reducing the incidence of malignant transformation.


Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, physician associates, nurses, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and dentists.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the learner will be better able to:

  • Identify oral mucosal lesions associated with smokeless tobacco use, including smokeless tobacco keratosis.

  • Assess the clinical presentation and histopathology of oral lesions caused by smokeless tobacco use.

  • Evaluate the potential malignant transformation risk of smokeless tobacco-related oral lesions.

  • Collaborate and communicate effectively within the interprofessional healthcare team to optimize early detection, timely management, and patient education of oral mucosal lesions associated with smokeless tobacco use.

Disclosures

StatPearls, LLC requires everyone who influences the content of an educational activity to disclose relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies that have occurred within the past 24 months. Ineligible companies are organizations whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. All relevant conflict(s) of interest have been mitigated. Hover over contributor names for financial disclosures. Others involved in planning this educational activity have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Commercial Support: This activity has received NO commercial support.

Continuing Education Accreditation Information

In support of improving patient care, StatPearls, LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

StatPearls, LLC is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the Commission of Continuing Provider Recognition at ADA.org/CERP.

Dentists: StatPearls, LLC designates this continuing education activity for 1.00 ADA credit(s). Dentists should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Please consult your professional licensing board for information on the applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity.

Method of Participation and Credit

  1. Register for the activity.    
  2. Review the target audience, learning objectives, and disclosure information.
  3. Study the educational content of the enduring material.
  4. Choose the best answer to each activity test question. To receive credit and a certificate, you must pass the test questions with a minimum score of 100%.
  5. Complete the post-activity assessment survey.

If you have concerns regarding the CE/CME system, please contact support@statpearls.com.

Disclaimer

This educational activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Faculty may discuss investigational products or off-label uses of products regulated by the FDA. Readers should verify all information before employing any therapies described in this educational activity.

The information provided for this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical/clinical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition. The information presented does not necessarily reflect the views of StatPearls or any commercial supporters of educational activities on statpearls.com. StatPearls expressly disclaims responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the course, for undetected error, or through a participant's misunderstanding of the content.

Unapproved Uses of Drugs/Devices: In accordance with FDA requirements, the audience is advised that information presented in this continuing education activity may contain references to unlabeled or unapproved uses of drugs or devices. Please refer to the FDA-approved package insert for each drug/device for full prescribing/utilization information.

Cancellation Policy: Please see the cancellation policy. StatPearls, LLC reserves the right to cancel any course due to unforeseen circumstances.

 

 
 

Reviews

Jonjon M. on 7/24/2025

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