Are traumatic dental injuries greater in alcohol or illicit drugs consumers? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

Traumatic dental injuries (TDI), alcohol and illicit drugs consumption are highly-prevalent public health concerns. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between alcohol and/or illicit drugs consumption and the presence of TDI.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This review was performed in accordance with MOOSE and PRISMA guidelines. Electronic searches were performed to found observational studies that investigated subjects that consumed alcohol and/or illicit drugs associated with TDI. Data extraction and a risk of bias assessment were performed. Three meta-analyses (MA) were performed to evaluate the association between TDI and alcohol consumption (1MA), subgrouping the studies into alcohol intake and binge-drinking, alcohol-related problems (2MA), and drugs (3MA). The odds ratio (OR) were calculated (p ≤ 0.05) for all analyses. The evidence was certainty-tested using the GRADE approach.

RESULTS

Twelve articles met the eligibility criteria. Nine studies were methodologically sound, while three had some confounding factors. In the pooled MA, an association between alcohol consumption and TDI (OR 1.57[1.33,1.85],p = 0.00001) was determined with moderate certainty of evidence, confirmed in the subgroups of alcohol intake (OR 1.49[1.17,1.90],p = 0.001) and binge-drinking (OR 1.68[1.30,2.18],p = 0.0001). No associations were found between TDI and risk for alcohol-related problems and drug use (OR 0.75[0.50,1.14],p = 0.18, and OR 1.20[0.82,1.75],p = 0.27, respectively), with both analyses having a very low certainty of evidence.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

There is moderate evidence concerning the association between alcohol use and TDI. Despite the absence of an association between illicit drugs use, alcohol-related problems and the presence of TDI, these results should be viewed with caution, since they had very low-certainly-evidence.