Eating disorders: screening in the dental office.
BACKGROUND
Eating disorders are serious illnesses that often are not detected by health care professionals. The author presents techniques that the oral health care professional (OHCP) can use to screen at-risk patients for eating disorders during routine preventive care appointments.


CONCLUSIONS
OHCPs often are the first health care professionals to encounter patients with undiagnosed eating disorders. Because early detection of eating disorders is challenging, screening tools can be helpful. Early detection of eating disorders, with appropriate referral, is associated with fewer dental and systemic adverse effects and a more favorable prognosis.


CONCLUSIONS
OHCPs are in an ideal position to screen patients for eating disorders. They can accomplish this via a valid, reliable, brief questionnaire and careful patient assessment.
Hague
Anne L
AL
Division of Dental Hygiene, College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University, 305 W. 12th Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA. hague.23@osu.edu
D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis; D003727:Dental Auxiliaries; D003770:Dental Offices; D003815:Dentists; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008487:Medical History Taking; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D010808:Physical Examination; D011313:Preventive Dentistry; D011379:Prognosis; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires