A recent graduate from the University of Arkansas (UA) at Little Rock used a $4,000 grant to study how bulimia affects teeth.
Using funding provided by a Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship grant from the Arkansas Division of Higher Education, graduate Colleen Gilliland’s research pursued improving dental treatment for patients with eating disorders.
To simulate the condition, she exposed extracted teeth to hydrochloric acid, mimicking the damaging effects of stomach acid on enamel that occurs with chronic vomiting. The teeth were then analyzed with a nanoindentation device to measure enamel changes at the nanomolecular level.
Her inspiration came after attending a seminar at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, where she learned that dentists often identify early signs of bulimia nervosa. Recurring acid exposure can erode enamel and lead to long-term oral health issues.
Gilliland plans to build on this research as she prepares for dental school in 2026.
