Dental practitioners' attitudes and practices in smoking cessation

Background: Smoking is a leading risk factor for a wide variety of diseases ranging periodontitis to cancer. Adults rarely visit their physicians for preventive care. But a survey shows that more than half of adult smokers see a dentist each year for prevention-oriented care. This may put dentists in better position to intervene for smoking cessation.

Objective: This study examined Japanese dentists' attitudes and practices regarding smoking cessation.

Methods: The study used a survey mailed to dentists (n=1489) in three prefectures (Tokyo, Iwate, Yamanashi) asking about the practitioners' smoking cessation activities, demographic characteristic, barriers to counseling and attitudes towards smoking.

Results: The response rate was 57% (n=847). Dentists advised 22% of patients to cease smoking. More than half of them used a pamphlet or similar. However, nicotine replacement therapy was prescribed infrequently (7%). Asked whether a dentist should apply smoking cessation activities in their office 76% replied “Yes”. The main barrier to cessation counseling was insufficient time, followed by a lack of knowledge and smoking cessation experts to refer to. 85% of respondents had no education or training in promoting smoking cessation. 22% of all responding dentists were smokers.

Conclusion: Few dentists conduct smoking cessation activities in their office. Dental professionals should develop a willingness to play a more positive role in relevant smoking cessation activities despite numerous barriers.