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Tooth retention, tooth loss and use of dental care among long-term narcotics abusers
Jing Fan1, Yih-Ing Hser, Diane Herbeck
1UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, Neuropsychiatric Institute, 1640 S Sepulveda Blvd, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90025, USA. jingf@ucla.edu
Abstract:
This study examined tooth retention, tooth loss and use of dental care among aging male narcotics abusers being followed-up for more than 33 years. The cohort of 581 male narcotics addicts admitted to California Civil Addict Program in 1962-1964 was tracked until 1996-1997. As of 1997, 284 (48.9%) were confirmed to be dead. A total of 108 surviving participants completed the oral examination and survey of use of dental services. African American addicts showed the least number of remaining teeth; and African Americans and Hispanics were less likely to utilize dental services compare to Whites. Factors significantly related to tooth retention were abusers' age (p = 0.0006), ethnicity (p = 0.01), income (p < 0.0001), smoking status (p = 0.03), and dental visits during the 12 months prior to the survey (p < 0.0001). These findings suggest that settings such as prisons and drug treatment programs that include dental care referral and follow-up would be expected to enhance oral and general health among narcotics-addicted individuals.
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