[Dental health in drug and alcohol addicts]

The aim of this study was to describe the dental health status of a group of Dutch twenty- to forty-year-old drug addicts (n = 121) and to compare the results on DMFS with data of an in age comparable sample of the general non-addicted adult population in the Netherlands (n = 1532). The average DMFT of the addicted group was 16.9. The average DMFS of this group differed statistically significantly from the DMFS of the general non-addicted population of the same age (52.1 versus 38.9). Statistically significant differences in DMFS were also found between the various age groups. In the youngest three age groups the percentage of addicted subjects with cervical plaque on one or more teeth was 76.5%, 82.4% and 88.2%. Bleeding of the gingiva occurred in almost all addicted subjects. Only 36% of the addicts had visited their dentist less than a year ago and 18% of them brushed their teeth less than once a day. It is concluded that a large gap exists in dental health status and behaviour between drug addicts and the general non-addicted population. Dental care as an integral part of the care for drug addicts is advocated.