Last year, ADA NSW Best Practice Productions worked with the National Eating Disorder Collaboration (NEDC) to create a new e-learning tool and video resource for oral practitioners. These resources target the knowledge and confidence gaps often experienced by dentists and dental hygienists when treating a patient living with an eating disorder.
 

As part of this project, a focus group of ADA members was undertaken to understand their perspective, including how to approach patients living with disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. This was significant in identifying the knowledge gaps and practices for a standard approach to care, and provided important feedback used in the development of both resources.
 

The aim of these resources is to guide oral health professionals in starting a conversation with patients about oral health and eating disorders, supporting their role in the prevention, identification, medical management and referral of patients with eating disorders.