Management of the active or recovering chemically dependent dental patient.

To identify chemically dependent patients, dentists should explore whether the patients have any history of, or are recovering from, chemical dependency. Occasionally, dental treatment plans must be modified for active or recovering chemically dependent patients. Dentists need to be alert for chemically dependent patients who are doctor-shopping and present themselves to dentists to secure narcotic analgesics. Dentists should be aware that chemical dependency is a disease, and the management of chemically dependent patients may require certain adjustments.