Oral Manifestations of Eating Disorders: Indications for a Collaborative Treatment Approach

T he effects of self-induced starvation and chronic vomiting can cause significant and often irreversible changes of the dentition and oral cavity, besides the complex medical and psychiatric symptoms. A dental emergency may be the patient's first confrontation of damage and deleterious sequelae caused by the eating disorder. The dental complications can cause crumbling teeth, loss of restorations, abscesses, and pain, which can intensify the patient's narcissistic vulnerability. With the aim of facilitating optimal patient care for the eating disorder patient, this paper will review the dental literature on the oral and dental manifestations, describe current dental management, and finally, discuss the guidelines for consultation liaison between dentistry and psychiatry.