There are stages people go through when changing a habit.⁸  These stages of change are precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance.  To be most effective when intervening with tobacco users, it is important to determine their stage of change.  This paper will provide examples of communicating with patients who are in three of these stages of change:  precontemplation, contemplation, and preparation.

The goal of intervention is to encourage people through the stages and to use the right approach at the right time.  Even if tobacco-using patients are unable to quit after the first intervention, the support of dental professionals can help them get further along on the road to terminating their use of tobacco.  Many people make a several attempts, sometimes over many years, before they succeed.  The dental staff can continually encourage users through several attempts until they succeed.  Action followed by relapse is much better than no action at all.  Patience is required along with a sensitive manner and a long-term mindset when helping tobacco-using patients to stop smoking, using smokeless tobacco.