In 2003, the Japanese Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (JSOMS) issued“ Promoting Anti-Smoking Declaration” and recognized the results of 14 years of research and experience. Since then, scientific evidence of the health hazards of smoking on oral diseases has been recognized globally. In this regard, OMS members are encouraged to quit smoking and encourage smoking cessation in their patients. At the 2016 61st General Meeting of the JSOMS, the Committee for Tobacco-Free Society (CTFS) held a symposium titled, “Creating a smoke-free society of members.” The objective of this review is to summarize the symposium and encourage our colleagues to create a smoke-free society.
Because tobacco use and oral diseases, such as oral cancer and precancer, are strongly associated, OMSs are expected to provide and encourage appropriate tobacco cessation support and consecutive treatment as an integral part of comprehensive surgical management. However, there is a gap between Japanese and American OMSs in terms of smoking frequencies as well as tobacco cessation activities of their patients with respect to tobacco-related oral diseases. In addition, smoking should be banned in all dental schools and their campuses, and tobacco cessation outpatient clinics in OMS departments should be instituted.
The CTFS of the JSOMS promotes a smoke-free society of members and supports tobacco abstinence. In order to achieve this, undergraduate dental education systems should be promoted regarding tobacco prevention and cessation and continuing training opportunities such as e-learning should be established.
All health personnel are responsible for maximizing efforts to create a smoke-free society in their organizations. In 2016, a proposal in the“White Paper on Tobacco, Japan” is encouraging further efforts by the JSOMS to promote tobacco cessation in dental practices covered by the National Health Insurance in collaboration with the Japan Dental Association and other dental societies. We are confident that a strong stand on smoking cessation by OMSs will greatly influence future dental care in Japan.
