ORAL AND DENTAL-HEALTH IN ALCOHOL MISUSING PATIENTS

Dental and oral health and their relationship to nutritional status am ong a group of alcohol misusers (n = 107) from south London is reporte d, The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) questionnaire was validated as an accurate and reliable screening questionnaire for use in alcohol misuse detection by a dentist, Half of the study popul ation consumed >200 units of alcohol/week, and 80% were heavy smokers, A high incidence of tooth wear and trauma to the dentition was record ed, Eight subjects had oral mucosal lesions, including two previously treated carcinomas, The dental health in alcoholics overall was not co mpromised, but nutritional impairment (body mass index and reduced mid arm muscle circumference) was associated with periodontal lesions, Ora l mucosal health of alcoholics is of concern, particularly in heavy sm okers. The interrelationships between dental-oral health and alcohol-t obacco usage have implications for preventative counseling in this pat ient group.