S29 

Identification of The Use of Substances Among Orthodontic Patients 

 
Lim Yan Jia1, Tan Jia Yi1, Nurul Asyikin Yahya2, Asma Alhusna Abang Abdullah3 

 
Objective: Substance abuse among the youth is rising and may cause abnormal manifestation in the 

oral cavity. Hence, the orthodontic dental setting is a potential venue to detect substance abuse among 

these young patients. This study aimed at identifying the use of substances among young adults 

attending orthodontic clinics and describing their oral manifestations related to the substances.  

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between the periods of October 2020 to January 2021. 

Identification of substance abuse was done to 138 orthodontic patients aged 15 to 30 years old using an 

online validated questionnaire. The validated questionnaire included the patient's demographic data and 

their use of substances i.e. tobacco, vape and alcohol. 47 subjects were clinically assessed for intraoral 

manifestations of substance use. Ethical approval and consent from all subjects were sought prior to the 

start of the recruitment. 

Results: The prevalence of subjects who smoke was 2.9%. A total of 4.35% and 15.22% of the 

respondents were identified as vape users and alcohol users, respectively. However, none of the 

respondents were abusers or dependents based on the frequency and duration of the usage. For the 

clinical examination, nicotine stomatitis was detected in one subject (2.13%). Periodontal status with 

BPE ≥ 3 was identified in 24 subjects (51.06%). Tooth staining was detected on 5 subjects (11.90%) 

and dental erosion was identified in one subject (2.13%). Dental attrition was found on 15 subjects 

(31.91%).  

Conclusion: A minority of young adults attending an orthodontic clinic are light users of either 

cigarettes, vapes or alcohol. Intraoral manifestations of substance usage were also minimal.  

 

Keywords: smokers, substance abuse, orthodontic clinic  

 

 

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1Final Year Dental Student, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 

2Dental Public Health Specialist/Lecturer, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 

3Orthodontic Specialist/Lecturer, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia 

 

Correspondence to:  

Dr Asma Alhusna Abang Abdullah, Associate Professor, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Sains Islam 

Malaysia, Malaysia, asmaabdullah@usim.edu.my    

 

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.31344/ijhhs.v6i0.419

mailto:asmaabdullah@usim.edu.my