Abstract
The need for preoperative bariatric patients to have an oral health assessment is being recognized related to influencing positive surgical outcomes. Eating behaviors diagnosed as bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and night eating syndrome are recognized as conditions that impact the amounts of food consumed postoperatively. As patients present themselves for assessment of surgery eligibility, interviews and self-reporting are used. To exercise control for their lack of reporting an eating disorder, further assessments are needed. The first is an assessment to detect oral manifestations of eating disorders. The second is an analysis of the prescribed medication regimen reported on the intake questionnaire. The case study findings of two bariatric surgery patients related to their oral health status and medication usage were markedly different. Participant one reported that she had struggled with her health. An oral screening of participant one detected dental caries, the need for root canal therapy, and perimolysis. She also acknowledged having participated in presurgery behaviors such as night eating, binging and purging, and having an uncontrollable urge to eat. She has gained 24 pounds (10.9 kg) in the last 6 months. Participant one is exhibiting presurgery eating disorders and is being medicated accordingly. Participant two reported that she was doing well after surgery. An oral screening did not detect any oral manifestations of eating disorders. The medication of participant two reflects her level of success with bariatric surgery. The findings related to oral manifestations of eating disorders, along with the patient's psychopharmacology, demonstrate the need for bariatric nurses to perform these types of eating disorder assessments. The results of these assessments are crucial in influencing positive outcomes and are the purpose of the paper.
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