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Background: Oral health professionals (OHPs) could have an important role in contributing to tobacco-dependence treatment of patients who visit dental clinics. How the public may perceive the role of OHPs in this capacity, however, has not been formally evaluated. The objective of this study was to assess national awareness and receptivity among Japanese in terms of the implementation of tobacco cessation counseling and treatment (TCCT) by OHPs in dental settings covered by National Health Insurance (NHI). The study participants' awareness and knowledge on tobacco-related health disparities were also examined.

The purpose of this article is to report changes to dental hygiene education in Japan and to evaluate the successful implementation of these changes in 2010. The legislative change that began in 2005 revised the length of education for dental hygiene students from two years to three or four years (the mandate was three years), which has led to a dramatic change in program curriculum. After a ive-year moratorium, a new curriculum has been established for dental hygiene education in Japan. The new curriculum provides students the requisite knowledge to effectively perform the latest dental hygiene procedures. Although the change of the educational system from the present mandatory three-year to the new four-year programs poses many administrative problems, we believe this shift will ultimately provide a more thorough and in-depth education for students.

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