Introduction

As dental healthcare professionals we are responsible for the oral health and wellness of the people that come to us for care.  Tobacco use is one of the most significant risk factors for both oral cancers¹ and periodontal diseases².  Numerous studies have shown that both current and former smokers have an increased incidence and severity of periodontal diseases.  Smoking also reduces the success of both non-surgical and surgical periodontal therapy.¹  Tobacco use cessation is therefore an important service that dental professionals should be actively involved with in the care of dental patients.  Unfortunately, this type of intervention is not a commonplace in many dental practices.³

Studies have shown that all healthcare professionals, including dental office team members, can be effective in helping their patients become tobacco free.⁴  The dental office is a logical place for brief tobacco cessation interventions.  Dental office team members are familiar with one-to-one communication and have important skills in interviewing, educating, and motivating.  The whole office team should be involved, but in many offices the dental hygienist plays a leading role and serves as coordinator of the program.

Brief tobacco cessation interventions can be offered as an important addition to other preventive and treatment procedures.⁵  Helping patients to stop using tobacco is very satisfying and rewarding.  If approached in a very low key, nonjudgmental, caring manner, tobacco users are very appreciative of our help and they are quick to spread the word. Increased referrals are a definite additional benefit.⁶

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate several ways of communicating with tobacco-using dental patients.  The communication strategy will include the use of the Tobacco Use Assessment Form and follow the "5 A's" contained in the National Center Institute (NCI) protocol which are described later in this paper.⁷  Methods to optimize communication with individuals in different stages of change will also be demonstrated and discussed.  Although the examples are with smokers, similar approaches can be used with smokeless/spit tobacco users.

Click Here To Navigate Within Article >> Abstract Introduction Stages of Change Precontemplation Stage Contemplation Stage Preparation Stage Action and Maintenance Stages Tobacco Cessation Intervention Conclusion References About the Authors