Social isolation, loneliness, job loss, and trauma have sparked a surge in methamphetamine abuse worldwide. As a dental professional, are you prepared to treat patients in your practice who are addicted to methamphetamine, the second most
widely abused illegal drug in the world? Learn how to recognize the clues of methamphetamine abuse during a routine dental examination and how to develop realistic treatment plans for patients whose lives and smiles have been affected by this drug.
Educational Objectives:
Participants will learn how to:
1. Recognize the signs of methamphetamine use during a routine dental examination
2. Incorporate principles of harm reduction to increase patient safety
3. Treat the oral effects of methamphetamine using a caries-risk assessment.
DDS, MPH, FADI - Oakland, California
Dr. Brown earned her dental and master’s degree in public health from the University of California, Los Angeles, and completed a residency in dental public health at the University of California, San Francisco. Her research on the effects of drug use and caries severity has garnered international interest and positioned her as a leading expert on substance use. She is the Senior Community Health Planner for San Mateo County, leading a county-wide response to the opioid epidemic. Dr. Brown is the recipient of the 2025 UCSF Alumni Practitioner Award for her boundless clinical empathy, understanding, and caring across multiple domains of health care.
