IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF SPECIFIC ORAL MANIFESTATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH BULIMIA NERVOSA

Abstract

Bulimia nervosa is described in the literature as an eating disorder that is associated with significant oral manifestations that cause physical, psychological and social harm to patients. The problem analyzed seeks to investigate: how to diagnose early and treat adequately the oral manifestations that occur in patients with bulimia nervosa? In this context, the general objective of this study is to understand the specific oral changes in bulimic patients, aiming at early diagnosis and adequate treatment. The objectives are: to describe the main clinical aspects of bulimia nervosa; to identify the most frequent oral signs and symptoms in patients with bulimia nervosa; to present alternatives for dental treatment to minimize the oral damage caused by bulimia nervosa. Therefore, a literature review of scientific articles, theses and dissertations collected in the databases of the Virtual Health Library (BVS) and Google Scholar was carried out, using the following Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS): bulimia nervosa and oral manifestations. The following inclusion criteria were used: national and international articles; available in full; and published in the last 10 years, from 2014 to 2024. The study demonstrated that patients with bulimia nervosa can develop different oral manifestations, the most frequent being dental erosions such as perimolysis. Other signs highlighted in the studies include: lesions on the soft palate; tooth decay and sensitivity; gingivitis; periodontal disease; sialosis; hyposalivation; xerostomia; bruxism and heterogeneous pain conditions. The more severe these manifestations are, the more chronic the patient's clinical condition will be, requiring more complex interventions. Early diagnosis of these manifestations by the dentist allows the implementation of a multidisciplinary approach, ensuring joint action with other professionals, expanding the patient's rehabilitation opportunities.