José Lança
José Lança, MD, PhD
Sponsored by ODHA
Drug addiction is a complex disorder with severe cognitive, behavioural and physiological symptoms. It has potentially life-threatening outcomes for the individual, as well as negative implications for society. Join this presentation that will help clinicians identify and better understand the impact of drug addictions on oral health and take appropriate steps to ensure optimal care for clients. Different prevention methods and treatments will be discussed, as well as effective and safe alternatives to opioids on pain management in dentistry, such as using a combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
Learning objectives:
- Understand the current terminology and concepts according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th edition (DSM-5) – e.g., substance use disorder, reward, tolerance, withdrawal.
- Obtain an overview of the brain reward circuitry, (e.g., dopaminergic mesolimbic system, reward-related learning system), clinical relevance on addiction and treatment of substance use disorders.
- Discuss the clinical relevance and effects on oral health, with examples:
- Tobacco smoking – xerostomia, pre-malignant and malignant lesions.
- E-cigarettes/vaping – E-cigarettes or Vaping product Associated Lung Injury (EVALI).
- Methamphetamine – tooth decay, periodontal disease, enamel erosion.
- Opioids – xerostomia, periodontitis, bruxism.
- Cannabis – xerostomia, periodontitis, gingival hyperplasia, caries.
- Examine approaches to prevention, such as:
- Public health education and education of health-care professionals.
- Cessation of substance abuse, including nicotine patch and varenicline for tobacco cessation; naloxone for acute opioid overdose; and methadone, naltrexone, or buprenorphine either alone or combined with naloxone for the treatment of opioid addiction.