DentISTS
Dentists and Dental Hygienists can help people quit smoking because they are experts in oral health, are accustomed to counseling about oral preventive health, and have broad exposure to the general populace.1
The potential influence of dentists as agents of change is clear from a consideration of the nature and conditions of the dentist-client relationship.2 For instance:
- Each year one-half of all Americans visit a dentist and often make a series of visits, often as part of a regular relationship with one practitioner that lasts for years.3
- The dentist has prestige, authority, and the respect and liking of his clients.
- Interaction is personal, friendly, and open to intense communication.
Smoking has morbid consequences for teeth, gums, and oral mucosa:
producing stains, patches, and odor.4
The use of tobacco products has negative consequences for dental hygiene. These effects range from mild to life-threatening. Problems can include:6
- Halitosis
- Abrasion
- Delayed wound healing
- Chronic periodontal disease
- Tobacco keratosis
- Oral and pharyngeal cancers
Dental practitioners can readily incorporate smoking cessation efforts into their routine dental practices by using an four-phase smoking intervention program.5 The overall focus of this program is to:
- "Ask" clients about smoking or smokeless tobacco usage;
- "Advise" tobacco-using clients to quit;
- "Assist" interested clients in quitting; and
- "Arrange" for supportive follow-up.
Note: Four As used in earlier studies, now five As are used (see Providers' Corner section for more information
on the 5 As).
Helpful Links
The American Dental Hygienists' Association Smoking Cessation Initiative (SCI) has information about the Ask. Advise. Refer. Program and provides a very informative toolkit which has helpful protocols and scripts to use with your patients.
The Smoking Cessation Leadership Center sponsors a free online tutorial for health care professionals on what they can do to help clients quit smoking (http://smokingcessationleadership.ucsf.edu/index.html).
The National Cancer Institute offers an entire monograph regarding information on smoking interventions for medical and dental practices (http://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/tcrb/monographs/5/index.html
Click here to find out more about the link between Smoking and Mesothelioma from the the Asbestos and Mesothelioma Center.
Fax to Assist
See Fax to Assist for more information on our Fax Referral Program.
References:
1 Gerbert, B., et al. (1989). Dentists as smoking cessation counselors. Journal of the American Dental Association, 118, 29-32.
2 O'Shea, R.M., & Corah, N.L. (1984). The dentist's role in cessation of cigarette smoking. Public Health Reports, 99, 510-14.
3 National Center for Health Statistics: Table 40 (1983). Department of Health and Human Services Publication No. (PHS) 84-1232.
4 Pindborg, J.J. (1980). Oral cancer and precancer. John Wright and Sons, Bristol, England.
5 Christen, A.J., et al. (1990). How-to-do-it quit-smoking strategies for the dental office team: an eight step program. Journal of the American Dental Association, 120, 20-27.
6 Benson, W., Christen, A.G., Crews, K.M., Madden, T.E., & Mecklenburg, R.E. (2000). Tobacco-use prevention and cessation: Dentistry's role in promoting freedom from tobacco. Journal of the American Dental Association, 131(8), 1137-1143.
