A Patient Diagnosed with Bulimia Reports to the Dental Office Seeking Cosmetic Dental Work.

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious psychiatric illness that typically occurs in adolescents and young adults. It is characterized by recurring episodes of consuming large amounts of food with an inappropriate compensatory behavior of purging to prevent weight gain. The purging behavior results in oral manifestations such as dental erosion, dental caries, sialadenosis, and oral mucosal trauma. Medical complications include electrolyte imbalances, esophageal rupture, and renal and cardiovascular failure. Treatment of BN involves psychosocial and psychopharmacologic approaches. Dentists are in a unique position to recognize patients with BN and help patients with BN and other eating disorders.