EVALUATING ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL HEALTH CHALLENGES IN INTRAVENOUS DRUG USERS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY OF DRUG...

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Addiction Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Intravenous drug use (IDU) is linked to severe oral and maxillofacial health problems, including tooth loss and osteomyelitis.
• Structured treatment programs, such as drug replacement therapy, may mitigate these oral health complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the prevalence and severity of oral and maxillofacial complications between individuals undergoing drug replacement therapy and those newly seeking treatment.
• To assess the impact of structured addiction treatment on oral health outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study in Tbilisi, Georgia, involving 135 new registrants and 115 long-term participants in replacement therapy.
• Data collected via questionnaires and intraoral examinations assessing inflammatory signs, functional impairments, and specific complications.
• Statistical analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics version 23.

Main Results:

• Individuals not on replacement therapy exhibited significantly higher rates of inflammatory symptoms (e.g., draining fistulas, exposed bone, sequestra).
• Functional impairments like limited mouth opening and tooth loosening were more common in untreated individuals.
• Higher prevalence of retained dental roots was observed in the untreated group, particularly in the posterior mandible.

Conclusions:

• Drug replacement therapy is associated with a significant reduction in severe oral and maxillofacial complications.
• Integrating dental care into addiction treatment programs is vital for managing oral health and preventing severe outcomes.
• Further longitudinal studies are recommended to confirm long-term benefits and optimize intervention strategies.