Eating Disorders in the Adolescent Patient

Mediating role of exercise in the relationship between body dissatisfaction and overeating using structural equation modeling

BACKGROUND

With the rapid development of society, teenagers have more access to individuals with perfect bodies and are becoming more concerned about their body image. Currently, few studies assess body image and eating disorders comprehensively in China. Given the seriousness of these issues, there is an urgent need to understand the current state of body image and eating behaviors among Chinese people and formulate preventive strategies.

METHODS

In this study, 1711 college students between 17 and 23 years old in southern China completed relevant anthropometric measurements, essential information and three questionnaires. Multiple linear regression was used to screen the variables, and sex invariant analysis was used to determine whether to separate men and women to fit the structural equation model. Finally, the path diagram of the structural equation model was used to explore the complex relationship between body dissatisfaction and overeating.

RESULTS

Our results found that 69.4% of participants with a body mass index (BMI) within the normal range were dissatisfied with their weight. Further, body dissatisfaction directly or indirectly leads to overeating. Additionally, exercise played a mediating role in the body dissatisfaction and overeating of college students.

CONCLUSIONS

If BMI directs body dissatisfaction, it may lead to overeating. As a mediating factor in structural equation modelling, exercise may provide strategies to reduce body dissatisfaction and prevent overeating.

Perceptions of mental health screening and referral to treatment in National Dental-Practice Based Research Network practices: A qualitative study

OBJECTIVES

Dental practices can have additional positive impacts on public health by implementing mental health screening and referral to treatment in dental care workflows. In this study, we examined how dental practices identify and address adult patient mental health concerns, attitudes about implementing mental health screening and referral, and potential barriers and facilitators to treatment.

METHODS

We conducted semi-structured focus groups with 17 dentists, 10 dental hygienists, and 5 dental assistants/office staff in the South-Central region of the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network. Transcribed interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

We identified five main themes from dental practitioners and office staff responses. Practitioners and office staff: (1) discover patient mental health concerns through record review, patient/caregiver disclosure, and patient observation; (2) respond to patients' mental health concerns by making the patient more comfortable, documenting the concern in the patient's chart, and directly addressing the mental health concern; (3) want a systematic process for mental health screening and referral to treatment in their dental office; (4) recognize potential barriers in implementing health screening and referral to treatment processes; (5) desire training on mental health matters. An overarching theme emerged: developing a trusting relationship with patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Participants noted the importance of implementing systematic procedures for mental health screening and referral to services into dental practices, while also recognizing the potential barriers for integrating such processes. They also expressed a desire for quality training and resources that can support better care for patients with mental health concerns.

Eating Disorders in Adolescents With Dental Braces: A Case Report

Orthodontic treatment during adolescence can contribute to the development of problematic eating disorders. This case study presents the situation of a 12-year-old male patient who experienced a prolonged period of dietary limitation, showed signs of chronic illness, and underwent a significant weight loss because of wearing dental braces. These circumstances triggered the emergence of atypical eating behaviors and complicated the therapeutic process. A case report highlights the effectiveness of conducting psychological evaluations for patients with braces who experience significant weight loss to address possible eating disorders. It also addressed the effectiveness of psychoeducation supportive therapy and nutritional rehabilitation for establishing regular eating patterns during orthodontic treatment. This case also illustrates the significant role of parents in offering emotional support and enhancing professional care. However, conducting extensive longitudinal studies is imperative to fully explore the relationship between orthodontic treatment and eating disorders.

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.

The Role of Psychologists in Sport Medicine Practice

Young athletes face a unique set of stressors from nonathletes that require careful screening and management. Internalizing disorders, substance use, overtraining, eating disorders, the female athlete triad, and sport-related injury are some psychological issues related to sports participation. Young athletes experiencing these conditions may experience functional impairment and distress on and off the field and management of these concerns includes routine screening and intervention. Embedding a psychologist within a pediatric sports medicine clinic improves patients' access to psychological screenings, early identification, and early intervention for these concerns athletes face.

Annual review of selected scientific literature: A report of the Committee on Scientific Investigation of the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry

The Scientific Investigation Committee of the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry offers this review of the 2021 dental literature in restorative dentistry to inform busy dentists regarding noteworthy scientific and clinical progress over the past year. Each member of the committee brings discipline-specific expertise to coverage of this broad topical area. Specific subject areas addressed, in order of the appearance in this report, include COVID-19 and the dental profession (new); prosthodontics; periodontics, alveolar bone, and peri-implant tissues; implant dentistry; dental materials and therapeutics; occlusion and temporomandibular disorders; sleep-related breathing disorders; oral medicine and oral and maxillofacial surgery; and dental caries and cariology. The authors focused their efforts on reporting information likely to influence daily dental treatment decisions with an emphasis on future trends in dentistry. With the tremendous volume of dentistry and related literature being published daily, this review cannot possibly be comprehensive. Rather, its purpose is to update interested readers and provide important resource material for those interested in pursuing greater details on their own. It remains our intent to assist colleagues in negotiating the extensive volume of important information being published annually. It is our hope that readers find this work useful in successfully managing the patients and dental problems they encounter.