Dentists' responses to drug misusers.

Abstract

A survey among a sample of illicit drug misusers in 1993 indicated under-use of dental services, in spite of a high prevalence of dental problems, whilst a survey of dentists revealed reluctance to treat such patients. Most dentists use additional infection control procedures when they detect 'at-risk' patients, but their screening procedures are unlikely to be effective. Most dentists in the survey would welcome extra training focused on drug misuse.