The pilot program, which was launched in 2001, was funded through a national grant from the Alliance of Community Health Plans and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The initiative was implemented in dental clinics in Bloomington, Inver Grove Heights, Ridgedale, and St. Cloud, Minn.

The expansion plans would bring the program to 12 other HealthPartners dental clinics beginning in spring 2004.

"While many dentists ask their patients about tobacco use, dentists have not traditionally been trained in how to counsel patients on giving up tobacco," said Craig Amundson, DDS, HealthPartners dental director. "This program gives dental clinic staff the tools to go beyond simply asking about tobacco use to advising and assisting patients to quit tobacco use."