Smoking cessation as a dental intervention--views of the profession

To undertake a questionnaire-based survey to determine the attitudes and activities of dental professionals in primary care in the Northern Deanery of the UK in relation to providing smoking cessation advice.

Questionnaires for dentists, hygienists and dental nurses were sent to hygienists to distribute to other members of the team. The information collected included: smoking status of the professionals and the practice; roles of the dental team in giving smoking cessation advice; levels of training received; and potential barriers to giving this brief intervention.

Over 90% of practices were smoke-free environments and significantly more dental nurses (23%) were smokers compared to dentists (10%) and hygienists (7%) (p<0.01). The majority of dentists and hygienists enquired about smoking status of their patients and all three groups believed that hygienists and dentists should offer brief smoking cessation advice. Potential barriers to delivering smoking cessation advice were identified: lack of remuneration; lack of time; and lack of training.

Dental teams in primary care are aware of the importance of offering smoking cessation advice and, with further training and appropriate remuneration, could guide many of their patients who smoke to successful quit attempts.