Tobacco cessation in India: a contemporary issue in public health dentistry

Indian J Dent Res. 2012 Jan-Feb;23(1):123. doi: 10.4103/0970-9290.99061.

Abstract

In India, tobacco use is incredibly linked to poverty and accounts for the high public health costs of treating tobacco-related diseases. Dental public health programs aid in detecting the tobacco-related periodontal diseases, oral cancers, etc., where the majority belongs to the submerged portion of iceberg, which otherwise leads to substantial morbidity and mortality. Moreover, public health dentists plays a key role in identifying both clinical and subclinical cases and aid in tobacco use cessation through various modes of health education and counseling. Therefore, the community-based measures are deemed to be the most cost-effective tool for tobacco cessation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Counseling
  • Health Education, Dental
  • Health Promotion
  • Humans
  • India
  • Mouth Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Periodontal Diseases / prevention & control
  • Public Health Dentistry*
  • Tobacco Use Cessation / economics
  • Tobacco Use Cessation / methods*