Dentist’s Role in Preventing Tobacco Use
Resolved, that dentists should be fully aware of the oral and maxillofacial health risks that are causally associated with tobacco use, including higher rates of tooth decay, receding gums, periodontal disease, mucosal lesions, bone damage, tooth loss, jaw bone loss and more, and be it further
Resolved, that dentists should routinely screen patients for tobacco and non-tobacco nicotine use and provide clinical preventive services, such as in-office cessation counseling, to prevent first-time tobacco use and encourage current users to quit, and be it further
Resolved, that the dentists and health organizations should provide educational materials to help prevent first-time use and encourage current users to quit, and be it further
Resolved, that these educational materials should be developed or provided by credible and trustworthy sources with no ties to the tobacco industry or its affiliates, and be it further
Cessation Counseling and Nicotine Replacement Therapies
Resolved, that aside from the intended use of approved tobacco cessation products and nicotine replacement therapies, the American Dental Association discourages the use of all nicotine products, and be it further
Resolved, that dentists should be fully informed about nicotine cessation interventions and routinely apply those techniques to help patients stop using tobacco, and be it further
Resolved, that dentists should obtain an adequate health history and when necessary, inform the patient about the Quitline to receive additional resources for tobacco cessation, and be it further
Resolved, that third-party payers should cover professionally administered cessation products and services (e.g., cessation counseling, prescription medications, etc.) as an essential plan benefit, and be it further
Modified Risk Tobacco Products
Resolved, that the American Dental Association does not consider the concept of “modified risk”—which is allowing some tobacco and other nicotine products (e.g., snus, electronic nicotine delivery systems) to be marketed as having a reduced or modified health risk compared to others (e.g., cigarettes)—to be a viable public health strategy to reduce the death and disease associated with tobacco use, and be it further
Resolved, that modified risk tobacco product (MRTP) applications should include extensive data examining the comparative impact on oral and maxillofacial health, both to the individual and the population as a whole, and the data should be made publicly available, and be it further
Regulation of Tobacco Products, Vaping Devices, and Other Nicotine Delivery Systems
Resolved, that the American Dental Association recognizes nicotine as an addictive chemical and supports its regulation as a controlled substance, and be it further
Resolved, that the ADA supports state and federal authority to investigate and strictly regulate nicotine and nicotine-containing products, including those made or derived from tobacco, and be it further
Resolved, that these nicotine-containing products include, but are not limited to:
- Cigarettes.
- Cigars (both premium and non-premium).
- Pipe tobacco.
- Hookah (also called waterpipe tobacco).
- Roll-your-own tobacco.
- Smokeless tobacco (e.g., chewing tobacco, moist snuff, snus, etc.).
- Dissolvables (e.g., nicotine lozenges, strips, sticks, etc.).
- Nicotine gels (absorbed through the skin).
- Electronic nicotine delivery systems (e.g., e-cigarettes, e-hooka, e-cigars, vape pens, advanced refillable personal vaporizers, e-pipes, etc.).
and be it further
Resolved, that the ADA supports strict regulation of these and other nicotine-containing products by (but without being limited to):
- Prohibiting product sales in all venues, including through vending machines and the internet.
- Levying significant taxes on these products.
- Setting age restrictions to purchase and receive these products.
- Requiring oral health warning statements, graphic images and ingredient disclosures on product packaging.
- Restricting the addition of added flavors (including menthol) and other ingredients and ingredient levels (including nicotine).
- Regulating second hand exposure to environmental smoke and vapor.
- Banning all forms of advertising and marketing (including bans on free sampling, product giveaways, promotional items, event sponsorships, etc.).
- Imposing licensure requirements for product wholesalers and retailers.
- Prohibiting the use of these products on and around public and private property, including government buildings and school campuses.