Dental practitioners and eating disorders.

To better understand how dental practitioners identify, counsel, and refer patients with eating disorders. A questionnaire was mailed to 625 dental practitioners, 54 (19%) of the dentists and 69 (20%) of the dental hygienists responded. Most dental practitioners were aware of eating disorder patients in their practices and most discussed their findings with their patients or parents. However, one of the suggestions most commonly given to patients, to brush immediately after vomiting, may be counter therapeutic, and a few offered referral for more health services. Collaboration between dental practitioners and mental health practitioners who work with eating disorder patients should be improved.