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| Year : 2015 | Volume
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| Issue : 5 | Page : 445 |
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| Smokeless tobacco research |
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SM Balaji
Executive Editor, Indian Journal of Dental Research, Director and Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon, Balaji Dental and Craniofacial Hospital, Teynampet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Click here for correspondence address and email
| Date of Web Publication | 17-Dec-2015 |
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How to cite this article:
Balaji S M. Smokeless tobacco research. Indian J Dent Res 2015;26:445 |
Smokeless tobacco (ST) with or without areca nut has emerged as one of the public health emergencies in South East Asia. [1] The effects of ST on oral and systemic health are numerous. [2] With a newer understanding of the mechanisms of combined addiction potential, newer drug therapies and modalities begin to emerge. [3] Dental treatments in ST users need to be substantially restructured so that the rate of healing, the prognosis of dental diseases does not get compromised by the use of ST. [2] Coupled with the fact, the dentist can often play a vital role in cessation and management of nicotine [4] and areca nut addiction, more comprehensive research and management strategies need to emerge.
For such effective protocols, database of facts of the disorders needs to be collected. Details of ST abuse, the prevalence of dental maladies among ST abusers, randomized control trials estimating the prevalence of oral lesions, and difference in the rate of healing, etc., needs to be estimated. India with wide tobacco and ST habit pattern, this would be a major challenge. However, such a challenge provides good research opportunities. The young researchers who are looking for good, long-term sustainable avenues of research can choose such areas. Besides, the huge amount of grants that are available for tobacco-related work, their work will be useful for making policies for intervention and perhaps prevention of nicotine-induced diseases.
All educational institutions, policy framing bodies shall seize this opportunity to serve the nation as well as make a suitable treatment plan for the numerous disorders that arise out of ST and nicotine dependence. From the IJDR side, every effort shall be poured into help to address such priority research areas. Interested researchers may come together to pool in their resources and form local task forces under local leaderships so that better knowledge and treatment protocols emerge. In the better interest of a tobacco-free world, newer initiatives need to be drawn with current treatment protocols.
 References | |  |
| 1. | Sinha DN, Gupta PC, Ray C, Singh PK. Prevalence of smokeless tobacco use among adults in WHO South-East Asia. Indian J Cancer 2012;49:342-6.  [ PUBMED]  |
| 2. | Balaji SM. Tobacco smoking and surgical healing of oral tissues: A review. Indian J Dent Res 2008;19:344-8. [ PUBMED] |
| 3. | Papke RL, Horenstein NA, Stokes C. Nicotinic activity of arecoline, the psychoactive element of "Betel Nuts", suggests a basis for habitual use and anti-inflammatory activity. PLoS One 2015;10:e0140907. |
| 4. | Gordon JS, Severson HH. Tobacco cessation through dental office settings. J Dent Educ 2001;65:354-63. |
Correspondence Address:
S M Balaji
Executive Editor, Indian Journal of Dental Research, Director and Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon, Balaji Dental and Craniofacial Hospital, Teynampet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0970-9290.172018
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| This article has been cited by | | 1 |
Father of the Pan Masala Industry: Sri Mansukh Lal Mahadev Bhai Kothari |
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| Krishna Rohit Misra | | SSRN Electronic Journal. 2016; | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | | 2 |
Father of the Pan Masala Industry: Sri Mansukh Lal Mahadev Bhai Kothari |
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| Krishna Rohit Misra | | SSRN Electronic Journal. 2016; | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | |
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