ORAL MUCOSAE MANIFESTATION IN PATIENTS WITH EATING DISORDERS: AN OVERVIEW

G. Giannini¹, S. A. Gehrke² , S.R. Tari¹, F. Lorusso¹ , A. Scarano¹

¹ Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
² Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM), Murcia, Spain

Correspondence to:

Annals of Stomatology 2024 May-August 4(2): 61-67
https://doi.org/10.69129/stomatol/2024v4iss2_5

Received: 20 April 2024 Accepted: 22 May 2024

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Abstract

Eating disorders (EDs) are a group of complex disorders characterized by persistent disturbances in eating or eating-related behaviors, resulting in altered food consumption or absorption and significantly impacting physical health and psychosocial functioning. The dentist plays a significant role in these clinical issues. Through a properly conducted interview and a detailed extraoral and intraoral examination, the dentist can be the first healthcare professional to recognize the symptoms of an ED. The oral symptoms of eating disorders can manifest at any stage of the illness and serve as an essential indicator to assess its course, prognosis, and treatment. In the literature, there are many studies available on the effects of eating disorders on oral health and perioral tissues. Still, there are few studies on the relationship between oral surgery and eating disorders. This review aims to describe the oral mucosae manifestation in patients with eating disorders and their leading causes. EDs are highly prevalent conditions, and the likelihood of a dentist encountering such patients is substantial. When encountering a patient with a history of EDs, currently undergoing treatment for EDs, or suspected of having EDs, it is advisable, before proceeding with oral surgery, to assess the risk/benefit ratio of oral therapy.

Keywords: eating disorders, EDs, food consumption/absorption, oral mucosae, Oral surgery, oral symptoms