The use of methamphetamines or meth is a wide spread epidemic across the world, but in the United States the use of meth is on the rise and fast. A major reason why meth is being used by so many addicts is because it is cheap, easy to make, and the high can last for up to 12 hours. Not only can the use of meth cause permanent damage to your brain, it can also cause unrepairable and severe oral health effects. “There are currently about 1.7 million abusers and in 2008, 13 million people over the age of 12 admitted to trying meth, and around 529,000 of those people were regular users. A majority of addicts using methamphetamines are males 19-40 years.” (http://www.meth-addiction-treatment.com/blog/methamphetamines/causes-meth-mouth/) Meth can
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In a lot of cases too much damage has been done to the teeth so they must extract them. Fluoride can be used to combat severe tooth decay. There are some cases where carious lesions extend into the pulp chamber. When that happens, they are usually referred to an endodontist. Endodontic therapy can be used to correct teeth with ceramic restorations root canals and dental implants or veneers to replace missing or extracted teeth. Unfortunately, in most cases the patient can’t afford to have the extensive care needed to correct the damage done to their teeth. Another way to help reduce damage done to teeth by dry mouth symptoms is by prescribing medicines to increase the production of saliva in the mouth. Finding the right oral care plan for your patient is important, but when dealing with a patient on any drug there are other guidelines to follow and help you can …show more content…
You should also express concern about the dental findings of you patient but always be sure to be professional and nonjudgmental. If your patient is willing to receive a medical consult, you should always be sure to have the phone number of a local physician, clinic, or rehab facility. Also make yourself familiar with the protocol of those rehab centers and clinics so you can let your patient know what to expect to help prevent them changing their minds due to not knowing how things will go or being scared. Use preventative measures on their teeth such as topical fluoride. Encourage your patient to drink water instead of sugary beverages and be cautious when you administering anesthetic, sedatives, nitrous oxide, or prescribing narcotics. Lastly, be sure to educate your patient on the horrible effects meth cause on their
In a lot of cases too much damage has been done to the teeth so they must extract them. Fluoride can be used to combat severe tooth decay. There are some cases where carious lesions extend into the pulp chamber. When that happens, they are usually referred to an endodontist. Endodontic therapy can be used to correct teeth with ceramic restorations root canals and dental implants or veneers to replace missing or extracted teeth. Unfortunately, in most cases the patient can’t afford to have the extensive care needed to correct the damage done to their teeth. Another way to help reduce damage done to teeth by dry mouth symptoms is by prescribing medicines to increase the production of saliva in the mouth. Finding the right oral care plan for your patient is important, but when dealing with a patient on any drug there are other guidelines to follow and help you can …show more content…
You should also express concern about the dental findings of you patient but always be sure to be professional and nonjudgmental. If your patient is willing to receive a medical consult, you should always be sure to have the phone number of a local physician, clinic, or rehab facility. Also make yourself familiar with the protocol of those rehab centers and clinics so you can let your patient know what to expect to help prevent them changing their minds due to not knowing how things will go or being scared. Use preventative measures on their teeth such as topical fluoride. Encourage your patient to drink water instead of sugary beverages and be cautious when you administering anesthetic, sedatives, nitrous oxide, or prescribing narcotics. Lastly, be sure to educate your patient on the horrible effects meth cause on their