The use of tobacco products, represents the leading cause of preventable illness and death in the developed world. Office-based interventions involve the use of some or all of a combination of cessation advice by a clinician, setting of a quit date, use of nicotine replacement therapy, and one or more recall visits for reinforcement and support. To evaluate the knowledge, attitude, practices and perceived barriers towards tobacco cessation counselling by dentists'. A cross sectional questionnaire based study was conducted using a pre-tested and validated self-administered questionnaire containing 35 items to be answered. The questionnaire was given to 200 dentists working in private practice in Pimpri-Chinchwad city. The data obtained was analysed using SPSS statistical software version 21.Out of 200 dentists who were given the questionnaire 194 dentists returned the questionnaire duly answered. Around 88% knew that nicotine was most addictive substance in tobacco and tobacco chewing was the most common habit. Almost over half of the dentists knew about the pharmacologic as well as non-pharmacologic treatment methods of nicotine dependence. Almost 72% asked their patients about tobacco use, 26% offered assistance to quit and referred patients to appropriate services. Only 63% of dentists agreed that their advice would be effective to help patients quit tobacco habits. The results of this study call for sensitizing dental professionals on the issue of tobacco cessation counselling.
