The Manhattan Tobacco Cessation Program (MTCP) at the New York University School of Medicine (NYUSM) announces its release of Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: A Toolkit for Dental Providers. The toolkit, already at use in NYU College of Dentistry’s teaching clinics, will be distributed to dental professionals New York State and the greater dental community nationwide.

Manhattan Tobacco Cessation Program Releases a Tobacco Treatment Toolkit for Dental Providers

Over the past three years, NYUCD clinics’ use of the Toolkit for Dental Providers has resulted in favorable smoking cessation outcomes. In one clinic alone, the smoking rate went down from 21% to 12% from 2008 to 2011, respectively. In addition, the assist rate, which was the percentage of smoking patients that received a prescription to quit from their clinician, began at 5% in 2008 and reached its peak at 58% in 2011.

“Studies show, that tobacco users who receive assistance in quitting from a clinician are twice as likely to quit successfully (for 5 or more months) compared to those who receive no clinician assistance,” said Diana Zraik, MPH, Co-Director, MTCP at NYUSM. “Considering 62% of U.S. adults visit the dentist each year, dental providers are in the unique position to address tobacco use in populations that may not otherwise seek medical care,” she said.

“On a routine day in dental practice, it is rare that we have the opportunity to save thousands of dollars in heath care expenses, improve the health of a patient and their family and just possibly save a life,” said Dr. Mark Wolff, NYUCD’s Professor and Chair for Pre-doctoral Clinical Education Cariology and Comprehensive Care. “Helping patients with tobacco cessation has become core to every NYU College of Dentistry graduate. Moreover, the Toolkit for Dental Providers is a long lasting standard of practice that I use and works in my own practice,” Dr. Wolff said.

MTCP’s Toolkit for Dental Providers provides the concise steps and procedures for treating tobacco use in the dental setting. Available online in PDF format, the toolkit can be accessed online or printed and kept on-hand for use in the dental practice. Please visit MTCP’s website for a copy of the toolkit.

For more information on treating tobacco use and the Manhattan Tobacco Cessation Program, please contact Diana Zraik, MPH at 646-501-2529 or diana.zraik@nyumc.org.

The Manhattan Tobacco Cessation Program is a Cessation Center funded through the New York State Tobacco Control Program. New York State Cessation Centers focus on assisting health care providers in treating their patients for tobacco use.

New York University School of Medicine is one of the nation’s leading academic institutions dedicated to achieving world class medical education excellence. An integral part of NYU Langone Medical Center, the School of Medicine at its core is committed to improving the human condition through medical education, scientific research and direct patient care.

 

 

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