Why does Patient Mental Health Matter? Part 4: Non-carious Tooth Surface Loss as a Consequence of Psychiatric Conditions

This is the fourth 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 Part 3, we discussed how a psychiatric disorder can result in dental pathology primarily through self-neglect. This article explores tooth surface loss and the potential link with psychiatry, considering the role of the primary dental care team in early recognition of psychiatric presentations. A fictionalized case-based discussion is used to explore this concept.