Arming oral health professionals in the fight against vaping

Oral Health Victoria, in partnership with the University of Melbourne Dental School, has launched an Australian-first online learning module, Vaping and Oral Health, to equip oral health professionals with knowledge and skills to help protect Victorians from vaping harm.

The free training resource was developed to support dentists, dental specialists, oral health therapists, dental hygienists and oral health educators, to identify vaping-related oral health issues and connect patients with support to get vape-free.

https://redcap.link/vapingmodule

It comes in response to the high rates of vaping - particularly among young people - and the growing body of evidence linking vaping to adverse oral and general health outcomes.

Between 2019-2023, there was a four-fold increase in young people using vapes from 5.3 per cent in 2019 to 21 per cent in 2023, according to Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data. Almost one in five (19 per cent) Australians aged 14+ reported having tried vaping at least once.

Recent national data shows encouraging signs of a decline in current use, however, daily vaping remains relatively stable and prevalence remains elevated compared with pre-2020 levels.

The module was informed by findings from a national baseline survey examining oral health practitioners' knowledge, perceptions and practices relating to e-cigarettes, together with interviews with oral health professionals. Only 29 per cent of oral health professionals surveyed reported having sufficient knowledge to provide cessation advice and support.

This research identified clear opportunities to strengthen knowledge, confidence and clinical practice in addressing vaping with patients.

Oral Health Victoria Director of Population Health Clare Lin said there had been some promising recent data suggesting vaping use was starting to decrease among young people but that it remains a significant public health issue.

"Oral health professionals made it clear that they needed easy access to high-quality vaping education tailored to their clinical practice to best support their patients," Dr Lin said.

Oral Medicine Specialist Tami Yap, an Associate Professor with the University of Melbourne Dental School, said regular dental visits create a natural opportunity to talk about vaping.

“Our module helps the oral healthcare team to use those moments to support patients, answer questions and dispel myths,” A/Prof Yap said.

“Oral health professionals are trusted voices in the healthcare system. By giving them up‑to‑date information on vaping, we’re amplifying the credible advice given as part of everyday care.”

The online course takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes to complete and can be accessed on desktop, tablet or mobile devices. Interactive knowledge check-ins and case studies allow participants to apply their learning in realistic clinical scenarios.

It equips oral health professionals with greater understanding of vape regulations, the ability to recognise smoking and vaping behaviours, identify risks and harms associated with vaping on general and oral health and have supportive conversations with patients.

The learning module is available free of charge through Oral Health Victoria from Wednesday 14 October 2026.

For more information or to access the module, visit https://redcap.link/vapingmodule.

This project was a collaborative team effort between Oral Health Victoria and Melbourne Dental School (L-R)

Dr Nidhi Saraswat (OHV), Dr Nadia Kaunein (MDS), A/Prof Tami Yap (MDS) and Dr Clare Lin (OHV).

(Cover image: www.ecigclick.co.uk)