Seeking True Multidisciplinary Approach to Eating Disorders: Dentists as Case-Finders
Prazwala Chirravur, BDS, MS1*, Pradeep Chirravur, MD, DNB2 and Shridevi Gopi-Firth, MD, Gdip3
1Division of Oral Medicine, Brigham, and Women’s Hospital, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston MA, USA
2Consultant Anaesthesiologist, Critical Care Medicine, Pain Management, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, India
3Vice-Chair Eating Disorders Faculty, Royal College of Psychiatrists, Scotland, UK and SAS Doctor in Eating Disorders Psychiatry, NHS Forth Valley, UK
*Corresponding Author: Prazwala Chirravur, Division of Oral Medicine, Brigham, and Women’s Hospital, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston MA, USA.
Received: April 02, 2022 Published: April 29, 2022
Abstract
Eating disorder (ED) is a distinctly convoluted psychiatric disorder that has an influence on oral health and general well-being. It involves a variety of complex behaviors such as hyper self-analysis of eating patterns, changes in body weight, and physical traits. The pathophysiology of ED is unclear. Both, the subtype, and intensity of ED impact oral health due to a combination of somatic and psychological expression. Though ED is a psychiatric disorder, dysregulated eating patterns and homeostasis remain present with profound comorbidities. Neurobiological changes correlating with brain impulsivity have been demonstrated through neuroimaging, predominantly in frontal-striatal and meso-corticolimbic circuits of the brain. A variety of literature have described diverse oral lesions following the eating pattern in ED. Dentists or oral medicine specialists have been case-finders who recognize patients with unusual eating habits, and other behavioural patterns which aid in early diagnosis. The most unique and commonly reported manifestations are dental caries, erosions, palatal ulcers, and oral infections. Professional training and continuing education that spans across psychiatric disorders can bolster awareness and reinforce appropriate knowledge among dentists. This review gives a perspective of the authors on ED patients, oral and overall health interplay, interprofessional education, and multidisciplinary care for early diagnosis of ED.
Keywords: Dentist, Oral Medicine specialist, Psychiatrist, Eating disorder, Interprofessional education, Multidisciplinary care
Citation: Chirravur P, Chirravur P, Gopi-Firth S. “Seeking True Multidisciplinary Approach to Eating Disorders: Dentists as Case-Finders”. SVOA Dentistry 3:3 (2022) Pages 123-126.
