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Dentists to address alcoholism in patients  by Tim Gehret Public Relations Addiction experts at MUSC say the link between oral cancer and heavy drinking makes dentists ideal sources of alcohol intervention.   The study that appeared in the December issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association also finds that most patients don’t mind discussing alcohol use with their dentist.   The results were somewhat surprising, said Peter M. Miller, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at MUSC.   “We thought alcohol was a sensitive topic,” Miller said. “We thought people might feel it’s okay if their doctor talked to them about [alcohol use], but not their dentist.”   MUSC researchers collected information from 408 adults. All were treated at an emergency walk-in dental clinic during a four-month period in 2005. Patients were asked questions about their drinking habits and thoughts about having their dentist discuss alcohol use with them.   About 80 percent of people in the study said that dentists should feel free to ask patients about their drinking habits. About 25 percent said they would be embarrassed if their dentist asked such a question. However, 90 percent said they would give an honest answer.   More than 90 percent of the people in the study also agreed that if drinking were affecting their oral health, their dentist should advise them to reduce the amount they drink, or to quit.   The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism estimates that nearly 50 percent of cases of oropharyngeal cancer are associated with heavy drinking.   Miller said most people are not aware that heavy drinking is linked with oral cancer risk and, therefore, might wonder why a dentist would ask about drinking habits.   About 25 percent of the people in the study were drinking alcohol at levels that could be considered harmful, researchers said. These people were just as open to talking with their dentist about their drinking habits as people who drank less or no alcohol, the study found.   “We thought perhaps the heaviest drinkers might feel defensive or embarrassed if their dentist asked them about alcohol,” Miller said. “But we didn’t find that. The results allow us to tell dentists that people don’t have a problem with this.”   Miller said that the results of this study show that dentists should be trained in how to talk with patients about alcohol use. “We wouldn’t expect the dentist to do counseling—just provide information,” he said. “If someone looks like they have a problem, it’s a matter of referral to either an alcoholism or addiction treatment center, a psychiatrist or psychologist.”   The study was funded by the National Institute on Dental and Craniofacial Research as part of an ongoing collaborative research effort between MUSC’s Center for Drug and Alcohol Programs and the Center for Oral Health Research in the College of Dental Medicine.     Friday, Jan. 19, 2007 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.