ORODENTAL MANIFESTATIONS IN METHAMPHETAMINE USERS REFEREEING TO ORAL MEDICINE DEPARTMENT, AND THEIR DENTAL CONSIDERATIONS

Amphetamine، methamphetamine، and other medications in this group stimulate the central nervous system (CNS). Users of methamphetamine might have various dental problems. Among the users of this substance، the rate of orodental disease is higher than other people. In this cross-sectional study، the subjects consisted of 30 individuals with a history of taking methamphetamine and 30 individuals with no such history as the controls. The population of study was those who referred to oral medicine department of dental faculty of Tabriz University over a year from October 2011 since October 2012. These patients were compared about averages of DMFT، attrition،، xerostomia، rampant carries، and bruxism. Two-sample t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were applied to evaluate differences in the means using SPSS 16 (α=0. 05). Based on the results، the means of DMFT، attrition، xerostomia، rampant caries and bruxism scores were higher in the case group compared to the controls. Since using the medications of this group might result in a number of side effects، it is necessary that dental practitioners be familiar with the signs and symptoms and medical complications related to these medications. Dental considerations of these patients have always been associated with a number of challenges; however، it is necessary that these patients be carefully monitored and the oral manifestations associated with the use of amphetamines، including rampant caries، enamel surface erosions، xerostomia، bruxism، trismus، and tooth discolorations be dealt with.