Oral Health in People Who Use Methamphetamine

Abstract

Oral health directly affects systemic health, yet a large proportion of the population has insufficient access to oral health care. People who use methamphetamine are at particularly high risk of having poor oral health due to a combination of pathophysiologic and socioeconomic factors. Nurse practitioners are well positioned to improve access to oral health care for this population through early screening, prompt referral, and targeted harm reduction strategies. The purpose of this article is to enhance nurse practitioner competency in providing oral-systemic health care to vulnerable populations. This article summarizes current knowledge regarding methamphetamine-associated dental decay and explores opportunities for health promotion and harm reduction in this vulnerable population.