Influence of narcotic drugs on the intensity and prevalence of dental diseases in drug dependent persons

Relevance. The problem of drug addiction is medical and social, since the use of drugs causes irreparable damage to the health of drug addicts, the vast majority of whom are young people. The data of scientific publications indicate that taking drugs, in addition to affecting all systems and organs of the body, causes and exacerbates pathological processes in the oral cavity.  

Aim. To study the effect of narcotic drugs on the intensity and prevalence of dental diseases in drug addicts, according to the literature. 

Materials and methods. The authors analyzed scientific articles posted in the databases PubMed, "e-library" and "Cyberleninka", and devoted to the effects of drugs on the organs and tissues of the maxillofacial region, as well as manifestations of drug addiction in the oral cavity. The search included articles from the last 5 years.  

Results. An analysis of scientific publications on the effect of drugs on the development and progression of diseases of the oral cavity showed that in most cases drug addicted patients have poor oral hygiene, multiple caries, periodontal disease, oral mucosa, salivary glands, and destructive changes in the bone tissue of the upper and lower jaws.  

Conclusions. Drug-addicted patients present a difficult task for dentists, not only because of anxiety at outpatient appointments, but also because of the increasing and duration-dependent chronic intoxication of the body, which causes a decrease in the level of general and local immunity in the oral cavity, perverse resistance to anesthetics, an increase in the prevalence of caries, rapidly complicated by pulpitis and periodontitis, as well as inflammatory and degenerative processes in the periodontium, oral mucosa, salivary glands, bone tissue of the upper and lower jaws. 

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