If you are a dentist please answer!!?

Question

If you were treating a 14yr old girl and her mum was in the room and you noticed obvious signs of bulimia on her teeth. what would you do???

Answer 1

Remember the Gillick ruling.

If I judged the girl suitably competent I would try to insist on seeing her without mum present. The subject can be approached much more tactfully.

If the girl is too young (a judgement call) then I would speak to mum alone. To broach the subject with the two together could be disastrous - there would be mountains of denial, judgementalism and insecurity to overcome.

I would also consider approaching the girl's medical practitioner with my concerns. This is a very serious, potentially life-threatening, problem that I would feel ethically obliged to investigate but which would also be beyond my skills to treat (by this I mean the psychiatric rather than dental treatment).

Answer 2

This is a difficult one, as until you are 16 we can discuss any area of you oral health with your parents especially if they are in the room with you.
It does become obvious to a dentist if you have bulimia as the acid from the constant vomiting erodes the enamel on the teeth.
My only and best suggestion is to talk to your mum about the problems you are having, take charge and tell her before someone else does.
Hope all goes well.
Qualified Dental Nurse

Answer 3

Its a tricky question, and every dentist will do what he thinks is right. Not every dentist will bring it up in front of your parent - many will just talk to you privately about it. Any dentist will be able to tell pretty quickly though. There really isn't a law that I know of that requires your doc to tell your parents, but there is a good chance if the erosion is significant to the point that you need fillings or crowns to fix it. It'd be hard to explain it any other way. Don't use this as a reason to try to dodge your appointment though. Try to talk to the hygienist first - she might be better able to sort it all out. Or, if your dentist is a woman, then that might make you more comfortable too. Sorry if its not you we're talking about, but you know what I mean.

Answer 4

Most dentists prefer the parent to wait in the waiting room but if your Mum comes with you I suggest anything the dentist might say can only help you. Please see a doctor or other health professional about this problem before you do your body irreparable damage. It is an illness so nobody is going to blame you or tell you off.

Answer 5

The acid from continual vomiting would damage the enamel on the teeth.

Answer 6

I WOULD TAKE THE MOTHER ASIDE AND TELL HER PRIVATELY WHAT I DISCOVERED. THEN, ONCE THE PARENT HAS BEEN INFORMED I WOULD NOTE THE CONVERSATION DETAILS IN THE PATIENT'S CHART AND LEAVE IT AT THAT.
THIS IS MUCH DIFFERENT IF I FOUND EVIDENCE OF UNEXP[LAINED ABUSE IN THE CHILD WHERE AUTHORITIES MUST BE NOTIFIED.

Answer 7

I would vomit