Under the Influence of Chewing Coca

Objectives: Effectiveness of coca, evaluation of oral health problems.

Demonstrate consequences in tissue and mucosa.

Anatomical changes in teeth and occlusion.

Biochemical action of coca during chewing.

Methods: Laboratory studies of the properties and chemical characteristics of coca as a raw material and its influences in oral health.

Clinical testing in humans who have been attracted to chewing coca frequently.

Results: Attrition, bruxism, periodontal problems, pain in TMJ muscles, the diffusion capacity of the anaesthetic agent, and the rate of elimination of the agent.

Conclusions: Serious considerations of chewing coca, like attrition, bruxism, periodontal problems, and pain in TMJ muscles.

In general, a fine balance between the concentrations of coca with or without another supplementary additive determines the duration of the analgesia, whereas frequency of effect is primarily a function of anaesthetic concentration.