Citation

Friedlander AH, Friedlander IK, Marder SR. Oral Surg. Oral Med. Oral Pathol. Oral Radiol. Endod. 2004; 97(1): 5-11.

Affiliation

Veterans Affairs Medical Center Los Angeles, USA. arthur.friedlander@med.va.gov

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S1079210403005626

PMID

14716250

Abstract

PTSD is a chronic mental illness that may arise after an individual experiences or witnesses a life-threatening event. Symptoms consist of persistent reexperiencing of the event, avoidance of reminders of the event, a numbing of positive emotions, and social withdrawal. A depressed mood and excessive use of alcohol and tobacco may accompany the disorder. PTSD afflicts approximately 5% of men and 11% of women. Dental disease may be extensive because of neglect of oral hygiene compounded by cigarette smoking. Dental treatment includes preventive education, oral cancer screening, and prescribing saliva substitutes or stimulants and anticaries agents to combat medication-induced xerostomia. Precautions must be taken when prescribing or administering certain analgesics, antibiotics, or sedative agents that may adversely interact with the psychiatric medications or when performing surgery because of the long-term effects of alcohol abuse.

Language: en