Why does patient mental health matter? Part 2: orofacial obsessions as a consequence of psychiatric conditions

Abstract

This is the second article in a series looking at psychiatric presentations in dentistry. Recently, the oral health of people with severe mental illness (SMI) has gained significant media attention after the Office of the Chief Dental Officer for England published a statement on the importance of prioritizing oral health for people with SMI. Furthermore, a consensus statement has set out a 5-year plan to improve oral health in people with SMI. In keeping with these developments, this article explores the presentation of dental-specific obsessions and their relationship with psychiatric conditions, identifying how the primary care dental team can play a role in early recognition of psychiatric presentations. A fictionalized case-based discussion is used to explore clinical presentations of orofacial obsessions and their potential relationship to psychiatry. CPD/Clinical Relevance: The role of the primary care dental team can be important for recognizing psychiatric conditions, such as obsessive compulsive disorder, body dysmorphic disorder and early psychosis.