POSITION STATEMENT ON TOBACCO USE CESSATION SERVICES AND THE ROLE OF THE DENTA

Whereas

  tobacco use has a devastating effect on general health and a significant negative impact on oral health; 

  tobacco use cessation services provided by dental hygienists have a significant positive impact on quit rates;  

  all  forms  of  tobacco  including  cigarettes,  pipe,  cigar  and  spit  tobacco  cause  addiction  and  detrimental  health

effects;

  the public generally expects oral health professionals to provide tobacco use cessation services;

The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association declares that,

  dental hygienists have a key role to play as a member of an inter-disciplinary health professional team, where

each member delivers a consistent tobacco use cessation message;

 dental hygienists have a professional responsibility to provide tobacco use cessation services, as a routine com-

;

 it is imperative that tobacco use cessation services are an integral part of oral health services;

  spit tobacco, cigars and pipes are not safe alternatives to cigarettes.