The current treatments available to treat tobacco dependency offer primary care providers a unique opportunity to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with chronic tobacco use. The mission of the dental profession is to clinically apply knowledge and skill with the goal of optimising a patient's oral and craniofacial health.

This concise handbook, part of the American Academy of Oral Medicine's (AAOM) Clinician's Guide series offers a useful outline of common oral diseases and dental conditions found in smokers and alerts dental professionals to the systemic diseases hazarded by tobacco users.

The guide is written to help professionals develop effective strategies for assisting patients toward recovery from tobacco addiction using a combination of interventional therapies, including nicotine-replacement therapy and smoking cessation counseling.

The authors make a strong case for the role of the oral health team as vanguards of patient education, disease prevention and effective treatment.