Tobacco control activities in U.S. dental practices.

The authors surveyed general dentists, periodontists, pediatric dentists and dental hygienists in three U.S. geographical regions to estimate the percentage who practiced tobacco use cessation activities in their dental offices. A total of 1,746 dentists and 723 dental hygienists completed either a long or short version of a mailed survey or telephone interview. The authors found that tobacco cessation activities are not a routine part of dental practice and that tobacco control activities and training vary by dentist type and geographical region.