Can interventions delivered by dental professionals help tobacco users to quit?

In addition to the well-known harmful effects of smoking on respiratory and cardiovascular systems, tobacco use is associated with an increased risk for oral disease, including cancer and gum disease. Dental professionals are in a unique position to help tobacco users who present for dental care by providing assistance to help them stop smoking or using other tobacco products. Combined findings from 14 studies including over 10,500 participants showed that tobacco interventions by dental professionals helped tobacco users to quit. These findings are similar for smokeless tobacco users and smokers, and the body of evidence reveals a significant increase in demonstrated benefit compared to earlier findings of this review.