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The Manhattan Tobacco Cessation Program at the New York University School of Medicine announces release of Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: A Toolkit for Dental Providers.

The toolkit, already at use in NYU College of Dentistry’s teaching clinics, will be distributed to dental professionals New York State and the greater dental community nationwide.

During the past three years, NYUCD clinics’ use of the Toolkit for Dental Providers has resulted in favorable smoking cessation outcomes. In one clinic alone, the smoking rate went down from 21% to 12% from 2008 to 2011, respectively. In addition, the assist rate, which was the percentage of smoking patients that received a prescription to quit from their clinician, began at 5% in 2008 and reached its peak at 58% in 2011.

“Studies show, that tobacco users who receive assistance in quitting from a clinician are twice as likely to quit successfully (for five or more months) compared to those who receive no clinician assistance,” said Diana Zraik, MPH, co-director, MTCP at NYUSM. “Considering 62% of U.S. adults visit the dentist each year, dental providers are in the unique position to address tobacco use in populations that may not otherwise seek medical care,” she said.

Added Dr. Mark Wolff, NYUCD’s professor and chair for Pre-doctoral Clinical Education Cariology and Comprehensive Care: “On a routine day in dental practice, it is rare that we have the opportunity to save thousands of dollars in heath care expenses, improve the health of a patient and their family and just possibly save a life. Helping patients with tobacco cessation has become core to every NYU College of Dentistry graduate. Moreover, the Toolkit for Dental Providers is a long lasting standard of practice that I use and works in my own practice.”

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MTCP’s Toolkit for Dental Providers provides the steps and procedures for treating tobacco use in the dental setting. Available online in PDF format, the toolkit can be accessed online or printed and kept on-hand for use in the dental practice. For a copy of the toolkit, visit medicine.med.nyu.edu/dgim/manhattan-tobacco-cessation-program/toolkits .

For more information, contact Diana Zraik, MPH, at (646) 501-2529 or [email protected].

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