Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Mexican Residents and Orthodontists Regarding Smoking Cessation in their Clinical Practice

<strong>Foundation:</strong> smoking is a chronic and addictive disease associated with a mortality rate of 7.69 million cases worldwide. It is considered a determining factor in the etiology and progression of caries, periodontal disease, and oral cancer. As oral health professionals, orthodontists are committed to identifying smoking habits and providing counseling and support to reduce and eradicate smoking. <br /><strong>Objective:</strong> to identify the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of residents and orthodontists regarding smoking cessation in their clinical practice. <br /><strong>Method:</strong> a cross-sectional study was conducted with a non-probability convenience sample. The study population consisted of Mexican residents and orthodontists. The final sample consisted of 169 orthodontists, representing 68 % of the specialty's residents. The following sociodemographic variables were included: age, sex, academic status, membership in an orthodontist association, and the interviewee's current smoking status. A structured questionnaire with closed-ended questions was developed to identify orthodontists' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding their role in tobacco cessation. <br /><strong>Results:</strong> 98 % of respondents agreed and strongly agreed that tobacco dependence should be recorded in the medical record; 72 % agreed with the provisions of the Mexican standards. Half of the respondents were unaware of support techniques to reduce tobacco use in their patients. <br /><strong>Conclusions:</strong> orthodontists have positive attitudes toward smoking cessation; however, they do not perceive themselves as having the necessary tools to provide counseling and support for behavior change.