A new report from the American Dental Association's clinical evaluators panel found that half of dentists surveyed are providing smoking cessation services to patients, but more training and resources are needed to increase that number, the organization said Nov. 16.
Of the 283 dentists that responded to the panel's survey, 41 percent said they only offer counseling; 8 percent said they offer counseling and treatment; 1 percent said they offer treatment only; and 49 percent said they offer neither. Of the 49 percent who don't offer counseling or treatment, a quarter said they were current or past smokers, vapers or smokeless tobacco product users.
Purnima Kumar, DDS, Ph.D., a co-author of the report and a member of the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs' Clinical Evaluators Panel Oversight Subcommittee, said the panel decided to conduct the survey because smoking tends to increase during global crises, and evidence shows smokers are at a greater risk of contracting COVID-19.
Of dentists who provide smoking cessation services, 90 percent said they were involved in conversations with patients who wanted to quit smoking, and 69 percent said they would be willing to prescribe pharmacologic agents to help with cessation.
Dr. Kumar said more training, resources and reimbursement for cessation services are needed to increase the number of dentists providing these services.
The survey found varied responses on the benefits of smoking cessation and surgical practices for patients who smoke, vape or use tobacco products.
Forty percent of respondents said they were aware that smoking cessation services are a part of most medical benefits, and 82 percent said they perform surgeries on patients who smoke, vape or use smokeless tobacco products.
Fifty percent of dentists who perform surgeries said they will perform or recommend surgical implants to these patients, and 45 percent said they require patients to alter their use of these products.