Dentists are a potentially valuable source of community education about the health effects surrounding tobacco use. The aims of this study were to provide Australian data on dentists' current practice regarding discussing smoking with patients, dentists' perceptions of the barriers to discussing smoking with patients and dentists' interest in discussing smoking with patients. A postal survey of all dentists who were members of the Hunter Branch of the Australian Dental Association in New South Wales was conducted. Dentists generally reported quite high levels of current activity regarding smoking. The majority of dentists reported asking at least some of their patients whether or not they smoked. Dentists reported that they discussed the possible oral effects of smoking with at least some of their smoking patients. Furthermore, they told at least some of their patients with smoking related disease that smoking may have contributed to their problems. Dentists identified a number of difficulties involved in helping patients quit smoking. These findings may be used to help guide future research and practice in involving dentists further in discussing smoking with patients.