Policy Proposal for Integration of Tobacco Cessation Interventions into Oral Health Care in Dental Settings

Due to the health consequences and economic losses associated with tobacco, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, a worldwide effort to control the effects of tobacco smoking on human health enacted a set of policies to curb tobacco use. Smoking cessation services aim to ensure that every patient is screened for tobacco use, their tobacco use status is documented, and patients who use tobacco are advised to quit. Dental health professionals are strategically positioned to reach many tobacco users and this proposal provides a simple framework whereby dentistry could play a major role in smoking cessation efforts.

Strategies for incorporating Cessation Services into Oral Health Care Delivery include the School Oral Health programs through Public Health Dentistry, updating the Dental School Curriculum through dental education regarding tobacco use prevention and cessation; including Tobacco Treatment Specialists certification in Postgraduate Curriculum for Dental Public Health; Continuing Medical Education (CME) focused on cessation services for dental personnel; Clinical Smoking Cessation Interventions in Dental settings; Compensation of Dental personnel for tobacco use prevention and cessation services; and ongoing research, evaluation and monitoring.

Incorporation of these evidence-based treatments into dental practice would result in more individuals achieving long-term abstinence and thus reduce tobacco-related death, disease, and economic loss worldwide.