DENTAL-HEALTH IN DUTCH DRUG-ADDICTS

The aim of this study was to describe the dental health status of a gr oup of Dutch 20-40-yr-old drug addicts (n=121) and to compare the resu lts on DMFS with data of an age-comparable sample of the general adult population in the Netherlands (n=1532). Mean DMFT of the addicted gro up was 16.9. ANOVA showed that the mean DMFS of the addicted group dif fered statistically significantly from the DMFS of the general populat ion of the same age (=52.1 versus 38.9). Statistically significant dif ferences in DMFS were also found between the various age groups. The p ercentage of addicted subjects with more than cervical plaque on one o r more teeth was 76.5%, 82.4% and 88.2% in the three youngest age grou ps. In almost all addicted subjects, bleeding of the gingiva was prese nt. Only 36% had visited the dentist less than a year ago and 18% brus hed their teeth less than once a day. It is concluded that there is a large gap in dental health status and behavior between drug addicts an d the general population. Dental care as an integral part of the care for drug addicts is advocated.