Men's & Women's Residential Recovery Program & Transitional Living Home for Alcoholics & Drug Addicts

What does a Smile Have to Do with Recovery?

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GoForth Recovery

April 17, 2025

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What does a Smile Have to Do with Recovery?

By the Numbers

3x more likely to finish treatment
2.4x more likely to get a job after treatment
2x more likely to stay off drugs
5x less likely to be homeless following treatment

Source:  JADA

“In 2021, we launched a new valuable partnership with Spartanburg Community Dental. Every resident within 72-hours of arrival is scheduled to receive an oral exam with x-rays & a complete treatment plan. Residents take responsibility for their dental health.
Together we are restoring lives & restoring smiles!”
~ GoForth Recovery

Community Partner Spotlight

Spartanburg Community Dental Center

Our Mission

“To provide effective and affordable oral health care to underserved and uninsured individuals in Spartanburg County, SC”

Established in July 2020, Spartanburg Community Dental Center (SCDC) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit community dental clinic whose primary reach is to those in underserved communities that do not have the economic means and insurance to access affordable oral health care. Partnered with Spartanburg Medical Center’s Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program, Spartanburg Community Dental Center can educate residents and provide direct care to vulnerable populations.  SCDC does not participate in any insurance programs, however, fees are structured on a reduced fee scale in order to enable treatment for most anyone in need.  Dental services include extractions, dentures, implants, crowns and bridgework, root canals and other dental procedures. The clinic is particularly interested in serving those striving to be free from addiction, abuse and homelessness.

“We are proud to be a community partner of GoForth Recovery!”

 If interested in getting more information, volunteering time or providing a donation, please visit spartanburgcommunitydental.com or contact Kristin Hays at khays@missiondentalsc.com or 864-308-1355.

Abstract

Comprehensive oral care improves treatment outcomes in male and female patients with high-severity and chronic substance use disorders

Background

Using data from a workforce training program funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration, the authors de-identified pre- and posttreatment assessments of high-severity and chronic substance use disorders (SUDs) to test the effect of integrated comprehensive oral health care for patients with SUDs on SUD therapeutic outcomes.

Methods

After 1 through 2 months of treatment at a SUD treatment facility, 158 male self-selected (First Step House) or 128 randomly selected sex-mixed (Odyssey House) patients aged 20 through 50 years with major dental needs received integrated comprehensive dental treatment. The SUD treatment outcomes for these groups were compared with those of matched 862 male or 142 sex-mixed patients, respectively, similarly treated for SUDs, but with no comprehensive oral health care (dental controls). Effects of age, primary drug of abuse, sex, and SUD treatment facility–influenced outcomes were determined with multivariate analyses.

Results

The dental treatment versus dental control significant outcomes were hazard ratio (95% confidence interval [CI]) 3.24 (2.35 to 4.46) increase for completion of SUD treatment, and odds ratios (95% CI) at discharge were 2.44 (1.66 to 3.59) increase for employment, 2.19 (1.44 to 3.33) increase in drug abstinence, and 0.27 (0.11 to 0.68) reduction in homelessness. Identified variables did not contribute to the outcomes.

Conclusions and Practical Implications

Improvement in SUD treatment outcomes at discharge suggests that complementary comprehensive oral health care improves SUD therapeutic results in patients with SUDs. Integrated comprehensive oral health care of major dental problems significantly improves treatment outcomes in patients whose disorders are particularly difficult to manage, such as patients with SUDs.

Source: “Comprehensive oral care improves treatment outcomes in male and female patients with high-severity and chronic substance use disorders”, https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(19)30132-1/abstract
Contributors:Glen R. Hanson, DDS, PhD glen.hanson@hsc.utah.edu ∙ Shawn McMillan, MPA ∙ Kali Mower, BS ∙ Carter T. Bruett, BS ∙ Llely Duarte, BS ∙ Sri Koduri, MS, MPA ∙ Lilliam Pinzon, DDS, MS, MPH ∙ Matt Warthen, BS ∙ Ken Smith, PhD ∙ Huong Meeks, PhD ∙ Bryan Trump, DDS, MS