# of referrals to Vermont’s quit tobacco resource (802QUITS) submitted by dental practices
Current Value
1
Definition
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Story Behind the Curve
Last Updated: March 21, 2023
Author: Office of Oral Health, Vermont Department of Health
The Vermont Department of Health has been working to promote tobacco cessation resources with dental providers. Research shows that although dental appointments present an opportune time to help patients quit using tobacco, and while many dental providers ask about their patients' tobacco use, very few are referring patients to tobacco cessation resources. The Health Department's Oral Health and Tobacco Control Programs have teamed up to promote 802Quits, Vermont's tobacco cessation resource to Vermont's community of dental care providers. The number of 802Quits referrals by dental providers serves a measure of success; a higher number of referrals would reflect greater engagement of dental providers in providing tobacco counseling and cessation services for their patients.
During the month of May 2015, we aggressively pursued targeted outreach and support to dental practices throughout the state, combined with ongoing local support through the local district offices. This resulted in a marked increase in the number of dental providers who referred patients to 802Quits, and we were able to achieve our target of 10 referrals during the 2nd quarter of 2015. Regrettably, that trend was not sustained, and we were unable to reach our goal in the subsequent quarters.
The Office of Oral Health is aware that additional efforts are required and is currently considering a communications plan targeted towards dental professionals, with the goal of helping them overcome any barriers that may be preventing them from referring more patients to 802Quits.
Partners
- Vermont State Dental Society
- Vermont Dental Hygienists' Association
- Vermont Department of Health's Local Health Offices (Public Health Dental Hygienists and Chronic Disease Designees)
- Regional Tobacco Treatment Specialists (“Vermont Quit Partners”)
What Works
Dental professionals can play a key role in fighting tobacco use in their patients. Beginning in 2018, CDC’s Division of Oral Health partnered with the Office on Smoking and Health, the American Dental Association, and the American Dental Hygienists’ Association to include the dental community in their Tips® campaign. Resources to support dental health care professionals in providing tobacco counseling and medication treatments to their patients who use tobacco can also be found in the American Dental Association and the American Dental Hygienists’ Association websites.
Action Plan
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We will continue to develop communications strategies designed to "drive" dental health care professionals to the 802Quits provider webpage.
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We will work with the Department of Vermont Health Access to disseminate the Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature (CDT code) that allows dental health care professionals to be reimbursed by Medicaid for tobacco cessation counseling and referrals.
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We will continue to work with the dental professional organizations in Vermont (Vermont State Dental Society and Vermont Dental Hygiene Association) to disseminate knowledge about updated tobacco cessation resources and trainings (two free online training courses titled Special Topics for Tobacco Cessation and Implementing a Brief Intervention for Tobacco in Clinical Settings are approved by the Vermont Board of Dental Examiners for continuing education credits).
Notes on Methodology
Prior to quarter 3 of 2016, referrals only included fax referrals. Starting in quarter 3 of 2016, referrals included fax referrals and web referrals.