Smoking Cessation in Dental Clinic Patients

Project #1: Integrating smoking cessation into dental visits using mobile health approaches (PI= B. Borrelli; Co-I Romano Endrighi)

 

While the overall prevalence of smoking in the US has decreased to 16.8%, the prevalence among certain subgroups is greater than 35% (e.g., low income, low education, medical comorbidities). Most current smokers are not motivated to quit (70%) and are unlikely to spontaneously seek treatment for smoking cessation. Thus, it is important to proactively reach smokers through existing infrastructures. Given the marked health disparities in both oral health and smoking, the urban dental clinic is an ideal setting to proactively reach both unmotivated and underserved (low income, racial/ethnic minority group) smokers. In 2015, 996 smokers were seen at the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (62% male, mean age = 41.5 years, 25% uninsured, 75% were hospitalized or had a serious illness in the past three years, 68% rated the health of their teeth and gums as “fair” or “poor”). Aside from the general effects of smoking on health, smokers are more likely to develop oral squamous cell carcinoma, oral pre-cancers, compromised oral wound healing, and dental implant failure. Other effects of smoking on oral health include tooth discoloration, plaque and tarter, dental caries, halitosis, diminished tasted, and increase in the prevalence and severity of periodontitis.

The aim of the current study is to gather preliminary data to develop an mobile intervention that can be easily integrated into any dental clinic, providing proactive reach, and evidenced-based treatment to smokers who may not otherwise seek treatment for smoking cessation. We are developing a brief, easy-to-use intervention that starts in the clinic and continues to reinforce evidenced-based principles after the visit in the patient’s real life setting.