title: Evaluation of methamphetamine-associated socioeconomic status and addictive behaviors, and their impact on oral health.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic methamphetamine abuse can lead to multiple health hazards. In particular, the substance is associated with devastating effects on oral health including symptoms such as rampant caries, gingiva inflammation, and xerostomia, whereby the term "Meth Mouth" occurs in the current literature. However, "Meth Mouth" pathology is primarily described on the basis of individual cases or has been evaluated without consideration of the mass of potential influencing factors. Therefore, we have conducted a systematic study to investigate the effects of accompanying factors and circumstances on oral health in cases of chronic methamphetamine abuse.
  
  
  METHODS
  In cooperation with two centers for addiction medicine, we assessed the data of 100 chronic methamphetamine users and 100 matched-pair controls between March 2012 and November 2013. We investigated their socioeconomic status, details of methamphetamine consumption behavior, collateral consumption of sugar beverages, nicotine alcohol, and other addictive substances including cannabis, opioids, other stimulants, and hallucinogens, and dental care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found considerably greater unstable social circumstances, a high collateral consumption of substances with pathogenic potential for the stomatognathic system, and significantly poorer dental care in the methamphetamine-user group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Various factors have to be considered with regard to methamphetamine use and its influence on oral health. These factors can trigger potential damage by the drug methamphetamine possibly leading to the symptoms of "Meth Mouth", and should be considered in prevention and therapy strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Munich University of Technology, Ismaninger Str. 22, D-81675 Munich, Germany. Electronic address: rommel@mkg.med.tum.de.
authors.forename: Niklas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rommel
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Munich University of Technology, Ismaninger Str. 22, D-81675 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Nils H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Rohleder
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Biometry, Epidemiology and Medical Informatics, University of Saarland at Homburg/Saar, Kirrberger Straße 100, D-66424 Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wagenpfeil
authors.affiliation: Department of Addiction Medicine, Hospital for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatic Medicine, and Neurology, Nordring 2, D-954, 44 Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haertel-Petri
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Munich University of Technology, Ismaninger Str. 22, D-81675 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Marco R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kesting
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Consumption behavior; Dental care; Methamphetamine; Oral health; Socioeconomic status