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Dentistry's role in tobacco control
1University of Florida College of Dentistry, Division of Public Health Services and Research, 1600 S.W. Archer Road, P.O. Box 100404, Room D8-38, Gainesville, Fla. 32610, USA. stomar@dental.ufl.edu
Journal of the American Dental Association (1939)
|January 24, 2002
Summary
Despite dental professionals seeing many tobacco users, most do not routinely advise them to quit. Integrating tobacco cessation interventions into dental practice is crucial for public health.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Dental Medicine
- Tobacco Control
Background:
- Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of preventable death in the U.S.
- Tobacco use contributes significantly to oral and pharyngeal cancers and periodontal disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize tobacco use prevalence in the U.S.
- To evaluate tobacco control activities in dental settings
- To review guidelines for tobacco use interventions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of tobacco use prevalence
- Assessment of tobacco control in dental schools and practices
- Analysis of clinical and community intervention guidelines.
Main Results:
- High prevalence of tobacco use among adults and adolescents
- Low rates of routine tobacco use screening and counseling by dentists
- Inadequate provision of tobacco intervention services in dental education programs
Conclusions:
- Many dental organizations have tobacco policy statements, but implementation is lacking.
- Dentistry has not fully leveraged its potential to reduce tobacco use.
- New U.S. Public Health Service guidelines offer practical methods for dentists to treat tobacco dependence.