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Xerostomia
- As a stimulant, Meth can cause dry mouth by slowing saliva gland
production. Encourage patients to drink water rather than trying to
quench their thirst with sodas, sports drinks, or fruit juices that
contain sugar. Without saliva to buffer the acid attacks, decay can
happen quickly and extensively. Preventive fluoride treatments both
in-office and at home are strongly recommended to strengthen and
remineralize the damaged enamel rods.
Dental Caries - While decay can
happen in any tooth, Meth users who smoke or snort the drug display the
most oral effects. Decay will likely be found along facial gumlines,
root surfaces and interproximals of the upper anterior teeth. The
caries spreads quickly around the tooth, causing such enamel destruction
that extraction becomes the only choice. Beware of the interaction
between illicit drugs and local anesthetics.
The patient may not experience the pain you would expect from such
extensive decay because Meth can block or lessen the effects. Other
times, the patient will use the extensive decay to get prescriptions for
painkillers, so be cautious when prescribing drugs - especially if they
are not your patients of record.)
Patients may report that their tooth decayed "from the inside out".
A possible explanation may be from reduced blood supply to the tooth.
With repeated shrinking, the vessels won't recover and without nutrients
to the tooth, it will die.
Cracked Teeth - Meth can cause the
user to feel anxious or nervous, so they often clench or grind their
teeth. You may see severe attrition and unnatural wear patterns.
Sometimes even biting/chewing soft foods, like mashed potatoes, will cause
their brittle, fragile shells of teeth to crumble. Users will often
suck on hard candy or lollipops to keep from grinding or clenching.
Lesions - Meth smokers can present
with lesions and/or burns on their lips, gingiva, oral mucosa or hard
palate. Those who snort may present with burns in the back of the
throat. Meth use decreases a person's ability to fight infection and
heal appropriately after injury.
Periodontal Disease - Meth users
do not generally seek regular dental treatment so will often present with
gingivitis (bleeding, inflamed gum tissue) or periodontitis (bone loss)
from lack of professional oral care and inadequate home care.
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Dental Care
Office Procedures
Oral Outcomes
Talking With Patients
Meth Mouth
Mandatory Reporters & Where to Report |
