As dentists increasingly screen their patients for medical conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, many health professionals are calling for dentists to also conduct dental screenings for drug misuse. For many patients, a visit to the dentist is the only interaction they have with a medical professional. If these patients (and others) display dental and gingival (gum) symptoms that are consistent with illicit drug use, a visit to the dentist provides an opportunity for them to get the information and assistance they need to effectively address their problems. Dentists are well situated to make appropriate referrals to treatment centers once they have established a rapport with patients with drug problems and have determined patients’ willingness to accept help.
At West Brookfield Dental, located at 9 West Main St., West Brookfield, preventive dentistry may not be where we start with every patient, but it’s where we would like to finish. Do you have any questions about any of the medications you take? Oral health is a long-term commitment we share with each patient. Please call 508.867.2777 to schedule an appointment.
P.S. Methamphetamine users are subject to rampant tooth decay, accelerated tooth wear, unexplained advanced gum disease, missing multiple teeth, and overall rapid and severe detrimental dental effects.
