[Evaluation of oral health in bulimia nervosa]

The aim of the study was to evaluate the dental status of bulimics with self inducing vomiting.

33 bulimic female patients aged between 17 to 20, who were in need of hospitalization in the Department of Psychiatry, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, were compared to 31 age and sex matched healthy controls aged between 18 to 36. For each subject dental examination including calculation of caries, erosion and oral hygiene indexes: PlI, OHI-S, DMFT and TWI was performed. In both groups salivary flow and pH of the whole saliva were measured.

Bulimics manifest a significantly higher retention of dental plaque and also higher frequency of enamel erosion, which were not present in the control group. Additionally, bulimics had more intense caries. Stimulated and resting salivary flow were poor, although they had the lowest pH values but were within the normal range.

Patients with bulimia nervosa showed a higher number and severity of enamel erosion. There is also the high difference in amount of dental plaque, caries and changes in salivary secretion. These results highlight a need for close cooperation between the dentist and the patient's physician, which will then improve the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.