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Are periodontitis, dental caries and xerostomia more frequently present in recreational ecstasy users?

British Dental Journal volume 232, pages 389–395 (2022)Cite this article

Abstract

Objectives The aim of this retrospective study was to determine whether there is a difference in oral health between recreational ecstasy users and non-recreational drug users.

Study design In a cross-sectional study, dental records of 149 individuals visiting an academic dental clinic in Amsterdam who reported recreational ecstasy use, defined as no more than twice a week, were systematically analysed and compared to a group of age- and sex-matched non-drug users randomly selected from this institute. The parameters retrieved from the dental records were decayed, missed and filled teeth index (DMFT), number of endodontically treated teeth, presence of active caries lesions, periodontitis, tooth wear, xerostomia and self-reported use of oral hygiene devices.

Results Periodontitis, active caries lesions and xerostomia were statistically significantly more present in ecstasy users. Ecstasy users brush their teeth significant less frequently per day than non-recreational drug users. There were no significant differences in DMFT and in the devices used for brushing/interdental cleaning and frequency of use of these interdental devices between both groups.

Conclusion Periodontitis, active caries lesions and xerostomia are more frequently present in recreational ecstasy users compared to age- and sex-matched non-users.

Key points

  • Periodontitis, active caries lesions and xerostomia are more frequently present in recreational ecstasy users than non-recreational drug users.

  • Recreational ecstasy users and non-recreational drug users do not differ in prevalence of tooth wear.

  • Ecstasy users brush their teeth less frequently per day than non-recreational drug users.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank M. Thorn for his assistance in retrieving information from the axiUm database.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral Biochemistry, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Emma E. J. van Kempen & Henk S. Brand

  2. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Pathology, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Jan G. A. M. de Visscher

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  1. Emma E. J. van Kempen
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Contributions

Emma E. J. van Kempen: conceptualisation; data curation; formal analysis; investigation; methodology; project administration; and writing - original draft. Jan G. A. M de Visscher: supervision; writing - review and editing; and validation. Henk S. Brand: conceptualisation; data curation; methodology; project administration; formal analysis; validation; resources; and supervision.

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Correspondence to Emma E. J. van Kempen.

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van Kempen, E., de Visscher, J. & Brand, H. Are periodontitis, dental caries and xerostomia more frequently present in recreational ecstasy users?. Br Dent J 232, 389–395 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-4040-1

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