More Dentists Are Urging Patients to Quit Tobacco

For Immediate Release May 1999
Contact: Fred Peterson [email protected]
Jann Ingmire [email protected]
312/440-2806

More Dentists Are Urging Patients To Quit Tobacco

CHICAGO -- Approximately six out of 10 dentists urge their patients to stop smoking or using smokeless tobacco, according to the American Dental Association's (ADA) recently released 1997 Survey of Current Issues in Dentistry: Tobacco Use Cessation.

Some 3,000 ADA member and non-member dentists were asked how often they personally advise patients who are smokers or use smokeless tobacco to quit. Over 58 percent of dentists urged smokers to quit the habit, representing a 10 percent increase over the comparable 1994 survey. In addition, more than 60 percent of the survey respondents advised patients to quit using smokeless tobacco.

However, if your dentist is female, you are more likely to be advised to quit smoking or to stop using smokeless tobacco, according to the survey. Nearly 48 percent of the female dentists routinely urged their patients to quit smoking compared to approximately 39 percent of male dentists. Almost 55 percent of female dentists routinely urged their patients to stop using smokeless tobacco compared with 45 percent of male dentists.

"We welcome the increase of dentists advising their patients to forego the use of tobacco products," said Dr. Timothy Rose, D.D.S., president, ADA. "We also encourage our members to learn more about tobacco cessation intervention techniques and to educate patients to overcome tobacco addiction."
The ADA's anti-tobacco stance dates back to 1964 and the Surgeon General's report on the health hazards of tobacco use.

"In recent years, the ADA has repeatedly spoken against the use of tobacco and has asked the federal government for regulations, including calling nicotine an addictive drug and supporting legislation to restrict its use," Dr. Rose added.

Most recently, the ADA worked for the passage of the Smokeless Tobacco Warning Label Act.

"We also have concentrated on warning young people about the risks of using so-called 'spit' tobacco, which can increase the risks of dental decay, tooth loss, mouth ulcers and cancer," Dr. Rose said.

For more information on tobacco and other oral health issues, visit ADA's website: http://www.ada.org

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