title: The poor oral health status of former heroin users treated with methadone in a Chinese city.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There have been few studies conducted on the oral health status of illegal drug users in China, affecting the development of preventive and therapeutic approaches. The aim of the present study was to investigate and analyze the oral health status of former heroin users treated with methadone in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province in southwestern China.
  
  
  METHODS
  The presence of caries (decayed tooth and root), missing teeth, residual roots, dental prosthetic restoration and periodontal health were investigated in 445 former heroin users treated with methadone (317 males and 128 females). Their ages ranged from 20 to 59 years old.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the study subjects, the prevalence of decayed/filled teeth was 64.72%, and the mean of decayed/filled teeth score was 2.92. The prevalence of decayed/filled roots was 21.80%, and the mean of decayed/filled roots score was 0.62. The prevalence of missing teeth was 31.46%, and the mean missing teeth score was 0.62. The prevalence of residual roots was 42.02%, with a mean score of 1.06. The rates of gingival bleeding, calculus, shallow pockets periodontal pocket, and deep periodontal pocket were 99.55%, 96.63%, 30.34%, and 2.70%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The oral health status among the studied former heroin users in Chengdu was poorer than the general population. Better dental care for the former heroin users is needed to promote their oral health.
authors.affiliation: Preventive Dentistry Department, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Xin-chang
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: De-yu
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004245:DMF Index; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010519:Periodontium / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008691:Methadone