Tobacco use is one of the major public health problems in India and also the single most important remediable public health problem. Tobacco cessation is the need of the hour. The dentists have a unique opportunity and professional obligation to be a positive influence in reducing the economic and social burden inflicted by tobacco use on dental and general health. However, dentists, in general, have not widely embraced tobacco cessation in practice. In this article, an evidence-based model (an adaptation of the World Health Organization "5As" tobacco cessation model) is presented for the dentist to help patients avoid tobacco initiation, to encourage and assist patients in tobacco cessation.
Keywords: 3Es and 6As model; behavioral counseling; dental clinic; dentists; moderate intervention; pharmacotherapy; tobacco cessation tool kit.