DENTAL
Impact of interventions on tobacco use morbidity and mortality
Tobacco use has a significant negative impact on oral health. People who use tobacco are three times more likely to have severe periodontitis (gum disease). Dental professionals have an advantage in identifying patients who use tobacco since oral diseases associated with tobacco are visible. Tobacco use cessation services provided by dental professionals have a significant positive impact on quit rates.
Evidence to support dental tobacco dependence interventions
There are multiple competing priorities that you deal with in your dental office. In order to gain support for the integration of tobacco dependence interventions into your dental practice, it is important to incorporate evidence into your planning tools and discussions with decision makers.
- Rationale for providing cessation services in a dental setting: Evidence Article List
- A Practical Guide to Tobacco Cessation in Dental Offices- Canadian Dental Association: Journal Article
- The Ontario Dental Association encourages dentists to help their clients to quit tobacco use: Media Release
- Ontario Dental Assistants clinical practice guidelines for tobacco cessation in dental settings: Presentation
- Tobacco Use Cessation Services and the Role of the Dental Hygienist : A CDHA position paper
- Dental Hygiene Facts Newsletter
Examples of evidence-based practice systems
Evidence-based examples and tools exist to help you to create an office system for talking to your clients about quitting tobacco use. Incorporating an office system to talk to your clients about quitting tobacco use can ensure that all clients are being offered support to quit from all members of the dental team. Every member of the dental team can play a role in providing tobacco cessation support for your clients.
- All members of the dental team can play a role in providing cessation support to clients: Sample Tobacco Treatment Roles for Dental professionals
- The Ontario Dental Hygienist’s Association has developed Billing codes for dental hygienists to use when providing tobacco cessation services to clients
- Dental School Policy Example
- Dental Office Policy Example
Examples of dental assessment and pharmacotherapy tools
- Free stop smoking medications are available in Ontario.
Resources for staff and clients
Resources Tailored for Dental Patients and Staff:
5A Reminder Staff Poster |
Patient Reminder Poster |
Patient Reminder Poster |
Oral Health & Smoking Fact Sheet Staff Handout |
Additional Resources for all health care settings |
Available for download. Contact your local Public Health Unit or Smokers’ Helpline for requests to adapt resources.
Training opportunities for dental staff
Dental professionals are considered a credible source of information by patients – you can help your patients to quit smoking, even with just a few minutes of your time.
- Training opportunities for Brief Contact Intervention with clients, as well more intensive interventions are available.
- Video examples of how you can work with clients in an effective and ineffective way: University of Florida YouTube The Ineffective Dentist and The Effective Dentist