Assessment of Dentin Hypersensitivity in Patients With Bulimia Nervosa.

UNLABELLED: The article presents results obtained from a study on dentin hypersensitivity in patients diagnosed with bulimia nervosa. These patients are characterized by erosions of the hard dental tissues caused by frequent acid exposure due to self-induced vomiting. Erosive lesions are often associated with hypersensitivity due to dentin exposure.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study is to determine the presence of a direct relationship between dentin hypersensitivity and dental erosion in patients with bulimia nervosa, as erosion plays an important role in the localization of dentin hypersensitivity.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The study included 30 patients diagnosed with bulimia. We examined 788 teeth, of which erosions were registered in 316. Two methods were used to provoke dentin hypersensitivity: a tactile stimulus and a cold stimulus. Pain assessment was performed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The study was conducted at the Dental Center of the Faculty of Dental Medicine in Varna, as well as in the Clinical Halls of 'Conservative Dentistry and Oral Pathology' within the Faculty of Dental Medicine, during the period 2023-2024.

RESULTS

A significant proportion of the examined patients (96.67%) reported experiencing dentin hypersensitivity in at least one tooth. Patients most commonly reported pain triggered by thermal stimuli, particularly cold, as well as during tooth brushing. After examining all available teeth with erosion, we found that nearly half of them (47.15%) were hypersensitive.

CONCLUSION

Dental erosion in patients with bulimia nervosa plays a crucial role in the localization of hypersensitivity. The severity of hypersensitivity may vary, ranging from mild discomfort to intense pain, which can impair masticatory and speech functions, as well as interfere with the patient's daily activities.