heroin and Dental-Caries

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of caries in patients who are heroin addicts and the effects of salivary flow and saliva pH on its prevalence. The study included 200 subjects (100 subjects diagnosed with heroin addiction as the test group and 100 subjects taking no addictive substances as the control group). In both groups, saliva status was established by determining flow rates and pH of stimulated and unstimulated saliva. The total number of dental caries cases was determined using the DMFT index and their more specific detection in the context of localization on the tooth using the DMFS index. The DMFT index was higher in the test group (mean 18.78) than in the control group (mean 5.32), with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.000). The highest caries prevalence in both groups was recorded on occlusal dental surfaces (44.70% in the test group and 16.20% in the control group). The prevalence of caries of vestibular dental surfaces was higher in the test group (9.40%) than in the control group (2.34%), and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.000). A statistically significant correlation was established between heroin addiction and reduced production of unstimulated saliva (P < 0.001) and stimulated saliva (P < 0.002), as well as pH values of stimulated saliva (P < 0.001) and unstimulated saliva (P < 0.001). In conclusion, a higher prevalence of caries of hard dental tissue was found in the test group. The flow of stimulated and unstimulated saliva as was as saliva pH was lower in the test group.

Topics: Adult; Croatia; Dental Caries; Dental Caries Activity Tests; DMF Index; Female; Heroin; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Male; Prevalence; Saliva; Salivation; Secretory Rate; Young Adult

To report on the oral health of heroin users and to determine risk factors for oral health status.. All heroin users at one rehabilitation camp received an interview using a pre-tested questionnaire from one of three trained interviewers and a dental examination using World Health Organization recommended procedures from one of three calibrated dentists.. Interviews and examinations were carried out at Hubei Province camp.. All 520 resident heroin users at the camp participated in the study.. Oral hygiene expressed using the Debris Index; caries status by DMFT; periodontal status by percentage with bleeding, pocketing and calculus; mucosal status using standard World Health Organization criteria.. One hundred (19%) of the heroin users were caries free; their mean DMFT was 4.2. The majority (92%) of the DMFT was decay and only a small proportion (8%) was treatment related. The proportion of heroin users with bleeding, calculus, shallow pocketing and deep pocketing was 42%, 95%, 42% and 8% respectively. The mean Debris Index score was 3.2. Mucosal lesions were present in 31 subjects (6%). Using multivariate analysis, duration of heroin use and education were risk factors for DMFT, route of drug administration was a risk factor for calculus and gender was a risk factor for deep pocketing.. There are indications of poorer periodontal health as well as higher caries experience in this group when compared to provincial dental epidemiological data. Mucosal lesions were not widely prevalent. Both social factors and characteristics of drug use were related to oral health in this group.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adolescent; Adult; China; Dental Calculus; Dental Caries; DMF Index; Educational Status; Employment; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Mouth Mucosa; Oral Health; Oral Hygiene Index; Periodontal Diseases; Periodontal Index; Risk Factors; Substance Abuse, Intravenous

Topics: Acanthosis Nigricans; Acne Vulgaris; Dental Caries; Dermatitis, Contact; Drug Eruptions; Edema; Gangrene; Hepatitis A; Heroin; Humans; Impetigo; Life Style; Pigmentation Disorders; Pruritus; Psychophysiologic Disorders; Purpura; Skin Diseases; Skin Manifestations; Substance-Related Disorders; Thrombophlebitis; Urticaria