[Dental and periodontal sequelae of bulimia nervosa]

Twenty-eight women with established bulimia nervosa according to the US psychiatric diagnostic criteria DSM III R with periods of morbidly increased appetite and vomiting, as well as 35 psychically and somatically healthy women were subjected to dental examination. The bulimic patients revealed a significantly poorer dental status (DMFS rate) than the control group. Within the patient group a deterioration of the DMFS rate was observed parallel with an increase in the frequency of vomiting and bulimic attacks, in sugar consumption and duration of the disease, as well as a decrease in salivary flow. Causes and implications for treatment and prevention are discussed.