Eating disorders and oral health: a matched case-control study

Area of Science:

• Oral Health
• Psychiatry
• Dental Medicine

Background:

• Eating disorders (EDs) are complex psychiatric conditions with significant systemic health implications.
• Oral health complications are frequently observed in individuals with EDs, yet specific clinical indicators for early detection remain underexplored.
• Identifying oral health parameters that can alert dental professionals to potential EDs is crucial for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the oral health status of patients with EDs against sex- and age-matched controls.
• To identify self-reported and clinical parameters indicative of EDs for dental healthcare professionals.
• To assess the diagnostic accuracy of specific oral health indicators for EDs.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 54 patients with EDs and matched controls.
• Participants completed questionnaires and underwent clinical dental examinations.
• Multivariate analysis was employed to identify significant associations between EDs and oral health parameters.

Main Results:

• ED patients exhibited significantly higher odds of dental problems (OR=4.1), burning tongue (OR=14.2), dry/cracked lips (OR=9.6), and dental erosion (OR=8.5).
• ED patients reported worse perceived oral health (OR=6.0) and had more dental erosion (OR=5.5) if engaging in vomiting/binge eating behaviors.
• Sensitivity and specificity for classifying ED patients using five key variables were 83% and 79%, respectively.

Conclusions:

• Oral health problems are prevalent in patients with EDs and warrant consideration in routine dental assessments.
• Specific oral manifestations like dental erosion and burning tongue can serve as potential warning signs for EDs.
• Integrating oral health screening into ED patient management can improve early detection and treatment outcomes.