Barriers and Facilitators Effecting Tobacco Cessation Interventions Delivered by Dental Professionals in Dental Setting: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Tobacco use remains a major preventable cause of morbidity and mortality, with significant implications for oral health. Dental professionals are well positioned to deliver tobacco cessation interventions due to their regular patient contact and ability to identify tobacco-related oral conditions. This scoping review synthesizes evidence published between 2005 and 2025 on the barriers, facilitators, and effectiveness of dental-delivered cessation interventions. Guided by the Arksey and O’Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, the review includes randomized trials, quasi-experimental studies, pilot evaluations, and process analyses. Interventions ranged from brief advice to intensive multi-session counselling with pharmacotherapy and digital or school-based models. The strongest evidence supports intensive counselling combined with pharmacotherapy, which achieved long-term abstinence rates of 36–45%. Barriers and facilitators were mapped using the COM-B model: capability gaps included limited training; opportunity barriers involved time, resources, and system support; motivation was influenced by role perception, patient receptivity, and cultural factors. The review concludes that dental professionals can play a significant role in tobacco cessation, but effective delivery requires strengthening skills, system integration, and policy support.