The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: Oral Health Professionals (OHP) have a unique role to play in supporting their patients in stopping tobacco use. There is good evidence indicating that Tobacco Use Cessation (TUC) could have a substantial public health impact because of the regular contact of OHP with a substantial proportion of their communities.

Methods: For TUC to be successful, it should be embedded in the standard care of dental team practice. Professional training and evaluation need to ensure that dental personnel are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills required. International organizations and national associations for dental professionals are urged to promote the need for implementing TUC in undergraduate and graduate dental and dental hygiene curriculum.

Results: Curriculum content should include: biological effects of tobacco use, tobacco culture and psychosocial aspects of tobacco use, prevention and treatment of tobacco use and dependence, and clinical skills training for TUC. To ensure that the delivery of effective TUC becomes part of standard care, continuing education courses should be designed and offered to OHP on a regular base. A care pathway is provided as guidance for TUC activity in dental practice. The Oral Health Network of Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation for OHP (OHNTPC) promotes development by national and international organizations, dental educational programs as well as dental practice teams by providing strategies for TUC implementation, content and assessment methods for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education as well as suggestions and assistance for further research.