The Effect of androgenic anabolic steroid and human growth hormone abuse on oral health

A literature review

Abstract

Introduction and purpose

The abuse of performance enhancing substances (PES) is a significant issue in competitive sports, especially bodybuilding. Though the umbrella term PES includes many legal and generally healthy supplements such as creatine, it also means illicit substances such as the human growth hormone  (HGH) and androgenic anabolic steroids (AAS). Despite abundant research on the subject of AAS and HGH abuse on general health, how they affect the oral cavity and craniofacial bone structures remains severely understudied. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of AAS and HGH abuse on oral health. 

Methods 

A review of literature available on PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect (as of March 2025) on the subject of AAS and HGH abuse on oral health.

Results

Both AAS and HGH can have a significant impact on the soft and osseous tissues of the craniofacial complex. The most significant and most often researched effects were acromegaly and periodontitis in case of HGH and AAS respectively. Gingival hyperplasia and increased bone trabeculation have also be observed in AAS abusers. Post-surgical tissue recovery and analgesic metabolism can also be altered by non-therapeutic AAS use. 

Conclusion

With more AAS and HGH abusing patients, due to their popularisation on social media, more research on this subject is necessary in order to formulate an appropriate approach to drug abusing patients. AAS and HGH use should be taken into consideration prior to invasive procedures in the oral cavity as well as during periodontal examination.