Fatemeh Jahanimoghadam - Kerman Social Determinants on Oral Health Research Center AND Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Molook Torabi - Kerman Social Determinants on Oral Health Research Center AND Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Habibeh Ahmadipour - School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Ashkan Faryad - Dentist, Private Practice, Mashhad, Iran
Siavash Faryad - Dentist, Private Practice, Mashhad, Iran

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Drug addiction causes severe oral damage and the socio-economic problems. Prevention and treatment of oral and dental diseases among substance abusers may facilitate their rehabilitation procedure and recovery from drug dependence. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between drug abuse and oral health status and behavior in drug abusers in Kerman, Iran. METHODS: This study was carried out on ۲۰۴ addicts admitted to rehabilitation centers and ۱۹۷ healthy controls referred to the urban health centers in Kerman City. Multistage random sampling method was applied. Data were collected including demographic data, questions related to oral health behavior, clinical examination for assessment of decayed, missed, and filled teeth (DMFT), Gingival Index (GI), and presence of oral lesions according to World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software. T-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and chi-square test were used. P < ۰.۰۵۰ was considered as statistical significance. RESULTS: ۱۹۳ patients (۹۴.۶%) were men and the rest were women with mean age of ۳۷.۷۲ ± ۱۱.۸۹ years. Opium was the most common drug (۸۹.۲%). Age of first use of narcotic material in ۴۵.۱% was ۱۸-۲۴ years old. Duration of narcotic drugs use in ۳۵.۳% was between ۶-۱۰ years. There was significant difference between addicted and healthy participants in oral health behavior, oral lesions, and mean scores of GI and DMFT. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study showed that there was statistically significant difference between addicted and healthy groups in using dental floss, attendance to dentist, having oral lesions, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems, and dental hypersensitivity.

Drug Abuser, Gingival index, Oral Health, Oral Disease