Sir,- We read with interest Ms Stillman-Lowe's recent letter concerning hands-on training of dental personnel in one-to-one smoking cessation interventions with patients (BDJ 2003, 195: 482). In 1995 we decided to tackle this issue within the dental hygiene diploma programme in Trinity College, Dublin. Two staff undertook training with the Irish Cancer Society and we were fortunate enough to be given appropriate teaching material by the National Institutes of Health in the USA. For several years the programme was delivered to second year dental hygiene students but it is now given in the second term of the first year.

Students spend six hours in lectures and workshops and are expected to complete a group project that is later presented before the school. We are now in discussion with the Irish Dental Hygienists Association to explore the possibility of a jointly run continuing education programme.

We believe firmly that dental hygienists are key personnel in the delivery of smoking cessation advice within the typical dental practice.1 Dental hygienists focus on oral health and healthy lifestyles and are well trained in communicating health messages to groups and individuals. In addition, they frequently treat people with periodontal diseases and those with implant restorations.

Smoking cessation advice is as essential as oral hygiene advice for these individuals. Our experiences in training the dental hygiene students had led us to propose to the School of Dental Science that such training should be delivered to all dental undergraduates as part of oral health education.