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Spolsky VW et al. J Am Dent Assoc 2018; S0002-8177(18)30131-4. 10.1016/j.adaj.2018.02.026 [Epub ahead of print].

The effects of methamphetamine on caries are well documented. However, little is known about its effects on the periodontium. This cross-sectional study, based in Los Angeles, aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of periodontal disease in an urban population of HIV-positive methamphetamine users. Participants were recruited by a combination of street outreach methods, referral from drug treatment centres and word of mouth. Participants were eligible if they were older than 18 years, spoke English or Spanish and had used methamphetamine in the past 30 days. Three trained and calibrated dentists completed periodontal assessments for 541 participants. The prevalence and severity of periodontal disease was high in this population of HIV-positive and -negative methamphetamine users. Cigarette smoking and age were identified as risk factors. The HIV-positive and -negative cohorts were remarkably similar, suggesting that their lifestyles contributed more to their destructive periodontal disease than their methamphetamine use.