Establishing smoking cessation programs in dental offices

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States. Because dental personnel treat millions of patients who are cigarette smokers, they have a unique opportunity to help persons quit the smoking habit. Effectively designed, office-based programs should involve all or most dental team members and contain the following components: a procedure that identifies smokers and records changes in their smoking status, a personal evaluation of each smoker's motivation to quit, an assessment of the degree of nicotine dependence experienced by potential quitters, the prescription of nicotine polacrilex therapy for appropriate candidates, personalized counseling commensurate with each patient's level of quitting readiness and, an effective system that ensures consistent patient follow-up and support.