Drug abuse identification and pain management in dental patients: a case study and literature review

Gen Dent. 2012 Jul-Aug;60(4):334-45; quiz 346-7.

Abstract

Properly identifying patients with a history of drug abuse is the first step in providing effective dental care. Dental professionals need to be fully aware of the challenges associated with treating this population. In the current study, the authors analyzed the physical and oral manifestations of illicit drug abuse to aid in the identification of patients who abuse drugs and the pain management strategies needed to treat them. The authors also present a clinical case of a patient with unique skin lesions and discuss the typical clinical findings of drug abuse based on a literature review.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Dental Care for Chronically Ill*
  • Drug Eruptions / etiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyperpigmentation / chemically induced
  • Illicit Drugs / adverse effects*
  • Middle Aged
  • Mouth Diseases / chemically induced
  • Pain Management*
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations, Dental / therapeutic use
  • Substance-Related Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / prevention & control
  • Tooth Diseases / chemically induced

Substances

  • Illicit Drugs
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations, Dental