Oral health status of drug addicts in the Czech Republic.

Over the last decade, illicit drug use has become a very pronounced problem in the Czech Republic. Some branches of medicine such as psychiatry, internal medicine and neurology have tried to confront the situation by joint treatment of addicted patients. Dentistry has so far remained outside this multi-disciplinary care despite the fact that the status of dental and other tissues in the oral cavity influences general health and vice versa. The aim of the survey on the oral health of drug addicts that was conducted in the Czech Republic from 2000 to 2002 was to collect data to help dental professionals contribute to the complex care of drug addicts. The number of addicted persons examined was 400 and the subgroup of drug addicts consisted of 217 subjects (mean age 23.87 yrs, SD 6.70), all being treated in long term hospitals. Among other oral health features observed, the DMFT and CPITN indices are presented in this paper. The results show severe dental and periodontal tissue destruction in young addicts and two case reports are included. The above survey indicates that dental treatment should become a part of standard care for addicted patients in long-term hospitals. Furthermore, if severe oral tissue impairment in young persons whether in dental practice or during autopsy is encountered a drug addiction should be suspected. If so, the treatment of the person or examination of the dead body should accordingly be adjusted.

Caries experience, oral health status and urine fluoride excretion in children in some localities in the Czech Republic.

Two studies on caries experience and oral health status in 12-year-old-children were conducted in a five year period (1993-1998). The examination was completed by analysing the urinary fluoride excretion of the examined children. The DMFT was recorded. The F-selective electrode was used for the analysis of the urinary fluoride concentration. The percentage of caries-free children decreased between 1993-1998. Caries experience rose in most of the localities. The highest caries experience expressed by DMFT was found in Tábor where it reached 5 per person. The urinary fluoride excretion ranged from the lowest level, found in Strakonice (0.478 mg/l), to the highest which was in Ostrava (0.660 mg/l) in 1998. F-concentrations in all other localities were between these extremes (both in 1993 and 1998). Oral health and fluoride exposure from the environment varied considerably which implies the necessity to implement individual precautions in oral care and prevention at a local level.