• Posted on: Aug 17 2015

When you visit the dentist you often get scanned for a series of different things, including health problems. Many of those same scans can also pick up drug use. It is important for your dentist to know if you are taking or abusing any other drugs so he can determine what types of medication or anesthesia are safe to use during your procedure.

“There are a sizeable number of people whose visit to a dentist represents their sole interaction with the healthcare system, highlighting the significance of the dental visit as a key opportunity to identify substance use disorders,” said Carrigan Parish, DMD, associate research scientist in the Department of Sociomedical Sciences. “However, our findings underscore a significant barrier in dentists’ attitudes that may limit the potential of the dental venue to play a role in screening for substance misuse.”

Read the full article here.

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