[Effects of tobacco use on general health: relevant information for dentistry (I)--part 1: pulmonary diseases and other malignancies]. / Effekte des Tabakkonsums auf die AIIgemeingesundheit: relevante Kenntnisse für die Zahnmedizin (I). Teil 1: Pulmonale Erkrankungen und weitere maligne Erkrankungen.

This fifth part of a series of publications from the Swiss task force named "Smoking--Intervention in the private dental office" on the topic "tobacco use and dental medicine" focuses on the effects of tobacco use on general health. A significant increase of tobacco use associated morbidity and mortality for many cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases has been well documented in the literature. In this review, the epidemiologic background as well as the pathophysiological fundamentals for tobacco-mediated pulmonary diseases is presented, focusing especially on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. In addition, a causal relationship between nicotine abuse and an increased carcinoma incidence for other malignancies but lung cancer will be discussed. Regarding the evidence in the present literature, it is undisputable that smoking is the most preventable cause for COPD and lung cancer.

[Effects of tobacco use on systemic health: relevant information for dentistry (II)--part 2: cardiovascular diseases and public health issues]. / Effekte des Tabakkonsums auf die Allgemeingesundheit: relevante Kenntnisse für die Zahnmedizin (II). Teil 2: Kardiovaskuläre Erkrankungen und gesundheitspolitische Fragen.

This is the sixth and concluding part of a series of publications from the Swiss task force named "Smoking - Intervention in the private dental office" on the topic "tobacco use and dental medicine". The focus of this review is the effects of smoking for the development of atherosclerosis as pathohistological correlate for acute coronary syndrome (ACS), arterial occlusive disease, and cerebrovascular diseases (stroke). Additionally, a causal relationship between tobacco use and an increased rate for complications during pregnancy and child birth will be discussed. Next to causal therapy of local and systemic diseases in general, an emphasis must be given to tobacco use prevention and cessation. Finally, important public health issues concerning smoking and tobacco use will be demonstrated, and options to improve the current situation will be presented.

[Acceptance of the meridol toothbrush by dental hygienists. A questionnaire study]. / Akzeptanz der meridol-Zahnbürste bei Dentalhygienikerinnen. Eine Fragebogenstudie.

Two manual toothbrushes were tested in a questionnaire study by 171 dental hygienists in a crossover design: a new toothbrush with conical filaments (meridol toothbrush, GABA International AG) and a reference toothbrush with end-rounded filaments (ADA toothbrush, American Dental Association). Each trial subject tested the two manual toothbrushes in two consecutive periods. Not only was the immediate impression of interest but also the impression after a period of three weeks. Therefore, four questionnaires in total had to be answered. All but a few questions (e.g. "the most often used toothbrush up to date" in the first questionnaire) were identical in the four questionnaires. After a single use the overall impression of the meridol toothbrush was good and very good for 95.1% of the trial subjects (ADA: 26.4%). The feeling along the gingival margin was very positively judged after a single brushing by the meridol user: 92.7% (ADA: 35.3%). The cleaning performance of the meridol toothbrush was found to be good and very good by 85.5% of the meridol beginner group, whereas only 60.2% of the ADA beginner group judged the ADA toothbrush as good or very good. The most remarkable fact is that nearly 90% of these professional trial subjects have decided to continue to use the meridol toothbrush and more than 90% would recommend it to their patients.

[Impact of tobacco use on the periodontium--an update (I)--Part 1: Epidemiologic und pathogenetic aspects of tobacco-related periodontal diseases]. / Einfluss des Tabakkonsums auf das Parodont--ein Update (I). Teil 1: Epidemiologische und pathogenetische Aspekte tabakbedingter Schädigungen am Parodont.

This literature review represents the second in a series of articles from the Swiss task force "Smoking--Intervention in the private dental office" on the topic "tobacco use and dental medicine". In this article, the epidemiological background as well as some pathogenetic processes are described and discussed critically for tobacco-related periodontal diseases. Earlier publications confirmed tobacco consumption as a risk factor for periodontal diseases. Over the last few years, oral health research has significantly contributed to the understanding of the mechanisms leading to the deterioration of the hard and soft tissues supporting the teeth. With the recording of the number of cigarettes smoked per day and the amount of years tobacco was used, a dose response relationship was established. Various, potentially significant pathogenic effects of tobacco-related substances may exist on the periodontal tissues, the immune response system or the composition of the oral flora. Moreover, there is reference that tobacco consumption may change the genetically determined susceptibility for periodontal diseases.

[Impact of tobacco use on the periodontium--an update. Part 2: Clinical and radiographic changes in the periodontium and effects on periodontal and implant therapy]. / Einfluss des Tabakkonsums auf das Parodont--ein Update. II. Teil 2: Klinische und radiologische Veränderungen des Parodonts sowie Folgen auf die Parodontaltherapie und orale Implantologie.

This third part of a series of publications from the Swiss task force "Smoking--Intervention in the private dental office" on the topic "tobacco use and dental medicine" describes the clinical and radiographic changes of the periodontium within smokers as well as the consequences of tobacco use on periodontal and implant therapy. With increased use of tobacco, patients show higher periodontal probing depths, increased clinical attachment loss, more alveolar bone resorption, a higher prevalence of gingival recessions, and a higher risk for tooth loss. In contrast to this, with smokers, the clinical characteristics of gingival inflammation or bleeding on periodontal probing are less established. Smokers show less positive results after conventional, surgical and regenerative periodontal therapy. The benefits of mucogingval surgery are reduced and less successful in smokers. Moreover, smoking impairs the osseointegration of oral implants and is at least partly responsible for a majority of biological complications in implant dentistry, such as periimplantitis. Based on the present understanding of periodontal diseases, the clinical findings, and the specific therapeutic outcomes with smokers, it appears to be reasonable, next to the current classification of periodontal diseases, to use the term "smokers periodontitis".

[Tobacco use prevention and cessation in the dental practice]. / Tabakprävention und -entwöhnung in der zahnmedizinischen Praxis.

This is the fourth part of a series of publications from the Swiss task force named "Smoking--intervention in the private dental office" on the topic "tobacco use and dental medicine". It presents the implementation of tobacco use prevention and cessation in the dental practice. Next to the optimal performance of plaque control, tobacco use cessation has become the most important measure for the treatment of periodontal diseases. In contrast to general medicine practice, the dental practice team is seeing its patients regularly and is therefore capable of helping their patients quit tobacco use. Tobacco dependence consists of both a physical and a psychological dependence. Therefore, the combination of pharmacotherapy with behavior change counseling is recommended. The use of brief Motivational Interviewing (BMI) for tobacco use short interventions in the dental practice appears to be suitable. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is the treatment of choice for the dental practice team because both Varenicline and Bupropion SR have to be prescribed by physicians.

[Tobacco-associated lesions of the oral mucosa]. / Tabakassoziierte Veränderungen der Mundhöhlen-schleimhaut.

Consumption of tobacco can result not only in a multitude of different general health problems like carcinoma of the lung, ischaemic cardiac diseases, peripheral vascular diseases, stroke, chronic-obstructive pulmonary diseases or peptic ulcers, but also in pathologic lesions of the oral mucosa. Benign oral lesions from smoking or consumption of smokeless tobacco are the so-called smoker's palate and smoker's melanosis. On the other hand, tobacco-associated lesions like oral leukoplakia or oral squamous cell carcinoma are already potentially life-threatening diseases that in general require active treatment. The following review article will present and discuss the typical lesions of the oral mucosa that result from chronic tobacco consumption. The aim of this article is to demonstrate dental health care providers the needs and benefits of tobacco use cessation in a dental setting, especially regarding stomatologic sequelae and consequences. The present article is the first in a series of articles from the Swiss task force "Smoking - Intervention in the private dental office" on the topic "tobacco use and dental medicine".