Education of tobacco use prevention and cessation for dental professionals - a paradigm shift

The use of tobacco continues to be a substantial risk factor in the development and progression
of oral cancer, periodontitis, implant failure and poor wound healing. Dental and
dental hygiene education providers have made great advances towards the incorporation
of tobacco education into their curricula in recent years. Unfortunately, however, both
medical and dental education research has consistently reported schools providing only
basic knowledge-based curricula that rarely incorporate more effective, behaviourallybased
components affecting long-term change. The limited training of oral healthcare
students, at least in part, is reflected in practising dental professionals continuing to report
offering incomplete tobacco interventions. In order to prepare the next generation of oral
healthcare providers, this paper proposes a paradigm shift in how tobacco use prevention
and cessation (TUPAC) may be incorporated into existing curricula. It is suggested that
schools should carefully consider: to what level of competency should TUPAC be trained
in dental and dental hygiene schools; the importance of establishing rapport through
good communication skills; the core knowledge level for TUPAC; suggested instructional
and assessment strategies; the importance of continuing professional education for the
enhancement of TUPAC.