| There is a flyer on this site that you can download and print for free to distribute to anyone who is interested in learning more about Ask. Advise. Refer. Give your fellow dental hygienists the contact information for your state's SCI Liaison. If you are introducing the Smoking Cessation Initiative (SCI) to a group of hygienists, there is a PowerPoint presentation that you can tailor to your state's needs. You can also print and distribute copies of the Protocols and Scripts that outline the specific instructions for the initiative. To view a list of available resources please visit our Toolkit section.
It is important to emphasize that smoking cessation counseling should be performed by all health care practitioners. This initiative is designed with the dental hygienist in mind. A 3 minute intervention can be extremely effective and easy to integrate into routine treatment. Discuss with your employer the impact tobacco use has on treatment outcomes.
There are many ways in which tobacco use prohibits positive outcomes of dental hygiene treatment. There is evidence indicating a strong link between tobacco use and periodontal disease, implant failures, longevity of tooth-colored restorations and much more.
One of the concerns of oral health care professionals is the length of time it may take to counsel patient/client on tobacco cessation. This initiative is designed to be performed in 3 minutes or less but still integrates the “5 A’s” (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange). Referring patient to quitlines saves a great deal of time and still provides an important resource. Dental practices should embrace the philosophy of oral health being an integral component of total health in their patient treatment plans. Helping to save a life is by far the most rewarding experience of all.
Contact the liaison in your state by going to the SCI Liaisons list on our site. Your liaison will provide you with information on smoking cessation activities in your state. A key component of achieving successful outcomes of the grant is to communicate information at the local level. You can best assist this initiative by offering to discuss it at your local dental hygiene component meeting or study group. In addition, your SCI liaison will know about the existing resources in your state such as local smoking or tobacco cessation programs. If your state has a quitline, it should be promoted on your own Web site. View the SCI Liaisons List for further information.
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