Oral and Dental Health in Substance Dependent Individuals

This cross-sectional clinical study was conducted at İzmir Democracy University Buca Seyfi Demirsoy Education and Research Hospital Probation Clinic from April to August 2024. In line with Turkish policy, individuals involved in substance-related offenses attended probation clinics, where this study's participants were recruited. A sample of 190 individuals with Methamphetamine (MA), Cannabis (THC), and Polysubstance (PSU) use disorders was compared to a control group of 91 healthy male hospital employees with no history of substance use. All participants underwent clinical oral health examinations performed by a trained dental student and specialist dentist, assessing dental health using the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index based on WHO diagnostic criteria. The clinical assessments were conducted with a portable dental chair, artificial lighting, and a dental mirror. The examiners were blinded to participants' substance use and sociodemographic details. In addition to clinical examinations, sociodemographic data, substance use history, and oral health behaviors were collected through a researcher-developed questionnaire and the Turkish version of the Hiroshima University Dental Behavior Inventory (HU-DBI). The study aimed to identify differences in dental health outcomes across substance use groups and to assess the relationships between oral health and variables such as substance type, usage duration, and oral health behaviors. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 26.0, applying t-tests, ANOVA, Chi-square tests, and Pearson correlation to evaluate differences and correlations across variables. A significance level of p\<0.05 was applied for all tests. The findings contribute to understanding the dental health needs of individuals with substance use disorders, underscoring the importance of targeted dental care interventions for this population.