Description

Tobacco is one of the greatest challenges in public health, ravaging countries and regions. Tobacco thrives everywhere despite social (and some religious) disapproval and causes a wide range of conditions effecting all the body organs. It is also identified as major risk factors for many oral disorders comprising from simple staining of teeth to deadly oral cancer. The dental practice is a potential location for partaking in tobacco cessation measures accessing to large population. The advice delivered through dental practice is as effective as support provided by other primary care professionals. Dental personnel has a unique opportunity in providing tobacco control activities by recognizing the early abnormal change in routine clinical examination via repeated oral check-up as part of their provision of ongoing oral healthcare. The dentist and dental practices have a critical role to play in encouraging and supporting tobacco cessation. Involving dental personnel takes holistic approach in number of ways.