Treating Patients Who Misuse Methamphetamine
According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately how many people reported using methamphetamine in the past year? Take this quiz to test your knowledge on managing this serious dental issue.
According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately how many people reported using methamphetamine in the past year?
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Which of the following is a way users can ingest methamphetamine?
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A group heavily impacted by methamphetamine use is men who have sex with men.
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Caries risk is highly elevated among chronic users of methamphetamine due to a high prevalence of xerostomia; heavy bruxing, leading to exposed tooth surfaces and fractured restorations; and poor diet and nutrition.
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The direct consequences of abuse—including xerostomia, bruxism, decreased salivary buffering capacity, and accompanying risk factors, such as consumption of other toxic substances—may contribute to an overall neglect of dental care, significantly increasing oral health risks.
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Discussions with patients about the oral health risks associated with nonmedical methamphetamine use should be accusatory and judgmental.
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If a patient is in recovery, or has expressed a desire to save his or her teeth, silver diamine fluoride is effective for caries management.
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Because methamphetamine users are subject to high caries risk, remineralization therapies are often indicated to prevent the development of new lesions or progression of existing decay.
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