Mark Stein, DDS MD, is an assistant professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery at New York University and an attending physician at Columbia University Medical Center, Staten Island University Hospital where he is actively involved in resident training and education in the dentistry and surgery departments.
Understanding the oral health implications of substance use and abuse is crucial for dentists to provide comprehensive care and support for affected patients.
Dentists can integrate evidence-based screening tools to detect substance use disorders, fostering communication and offering referrals to addiction treatment specialists
This review presents data from the literature focusing on opioids’ action on the central and peripheral nervous systems and subsequent influence on local anesthetics.