Risk assessment, therapeutic and restorative therapies, establishment of a dental home, and interprofessional care are key to mitigating the negative effects of tooth decay.
As premature tooth loss is one of the first signs of this debilitating disease, oral health professionals need to be prepared to recognize it in its earliest stages.
Oral health professionals are well positioned to provide the extensive preventive and therapeutic care required to maintain the oral health of this patient population.
Clinicians should be knowledgeable about the signs and symptoms of opioid use disorder in order to provide the most appropriate care to these patients.