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Cited by 133Dental Health and Care UtilizationOral microbiology and periodontitis researchHIV/AIDS oral health manifestations

A systematic review and meta‐analysis of the association between poor oral health and substance abuse

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Baghaie, Hooman, Kisely, Steve, Forbes, Malcolm, Sawyer, Emily, Siskind, Dan J.·2017·Addiction
DOI 10.1111/add.13754
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Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Substance use disorders are associated commonly with comorbid physical illness. There are fewer data on dental disease in these conditions, in spite of high rates of dry mouth (xerostomia), as well as the associated indirect or life-style effects such as poverty and lack of access to care. We compared the oral health of people with substance use disorders (SUDs) with non-using controls. METHOD: This was a systematic search for studies from the last 35 years of the oral health of people reporting SUDs. We used MEDLINE, PsycInfo, OVID, Google Scholar, EMBASE and article bibliographies. Results were compared with the general population. Oral health was assessed in terms of dental caries and periodontal disease using the following standardized measures: the mean number of decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) or surfaces (DMFS) and probing pocket depth. Non-carious tooth loss was assessed clinically. RESULTS: We identified 28 studies that had sufficient data for a meta-analysis, comprising 4086 SU patients and 28 031 controls. People with SUD had significantly higher mean scores for DMFT [mean difference = 5.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.61-7.69 and DMFS (mean difference = 17.83, 95% CI = 6.85-28.8]. They had more decayed teeth but fewer restorations, indicating reduced access to dental care. Patients with SUD also exhibited greater tooth loss, non-carious tooth loss and destructive periodontal disease compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Patients with substance use disorders have greater and more severe dental caries and periodontal disease than the general population, but are less likely to have received dental care.

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  • Knowledge of patient substance use is relevant to dental practitioners because of oral health impacts and opioid prescribing.

    “Knowledge regarding patient substance use is particularly relevant to dental practitioners given the impact that substance use disorders (e.g., methamphetamine use, alcohol use, tobacco use) and their associated behavioral comorbidities (e.g., poor oral hygiene practices, malnutrition, high sugar diets, etc.) have on oral health, as well as the frequency with which dentists prescribe opioids that”

    From Dental screening, counseling, and referral to treatment for substance use disorder: Survey of the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (2026) · cites this paper as Baghaie et al., 2017

    The Introduction and Discussion describe oral disease associated with substance use, and “For dental practitioners” recommends asking patients about substance use. That section also discusses opioid analgesics and opioid-seeking behavior, but it does not establish how frequently dentists prescribe opioids. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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Authors
Baghaie, H., Kisely, S., Forbes, M., Sawyer, E., & Siskind, D. J.
Affiliations
  • The University of Queensland (AU)
  • James Cook University (AU)
Corresponding author
Baghaie, Hooman
ORCID
Venue
Addiction
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2017-03-16
Volume
112
Issue
5
Pages
765-779
ISSN
  • 0965-2140 (ISSN-L)
  • 1360-0443
DOI
10.1111/add.13754
OpenAlex
W2596126926
Cited by
133
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 20 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 3
FWCI
1.19
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Addiction (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ResearchOnline - JCU (James Cook University) (submittedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Minerva Access (University of Melbourne) (submittedVersion)
  • Griffith Research Online (submittedVersion)
Funders
University of Queensland (University of Queensland Winter Research Program)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Dentistry › Periodontics › Dental Health and Care Utilization
  • Health Sciences › Dentistry › Periodontics › Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › HIV/AIDS oral health manifestations
Keywords
substance use disorders, oral health, dental caries, periodontal disease, DMFT index, access to dental care, xerostomia, comorbidities
MeSH terms
Dental Caries, DMF Index, Humans, Oral Health, Periodontal Diseases, Comorbidity, Substance-Related Disorders

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