Oral symptoms in GERD are likely to be associated with impaired salivary flow volume or swallowing function. Treatment for the oral dryness induced by reduced salivary flow volume and rehabilitation for swallowing function could be indicated in patients with GERD.

BackgroundDental erosion (DE), one of oral hard tissue diseases, is one of the extraoesophageal symptoms defined as the Montreal Definition and Classification of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, no study evaluated the relationship between GERD and oral soft tissues. We hypothesized that oral soft tissue disorders (OSTDs) would be related to GERD. The study aimed to investigate the association OSTDs and GERD.MethodsGERD patients (105 cases), older and younger controls (25 cases each) were retrospectively examined for oral symptoms, salivary flow volume (Saxon test), swallowing function (repetitive saliva swallowing test [RSST]), teeth (decayed, missing, and filled [DMF] indices), and soft tissues (as evaluation of OSTDs, gingivitis; papillary, marginal, and attached [PMA] gingival indexes, simplified oral hygiene indices [OHI-S], and inflammatory oral mucosal regions). Clinical histories, which included body mass index [BMI], the existence of alcohol and tobacco use, and bruxism, were also investigated. A P value of <0.05 was defined as statistically significant.ResultsGERD patients, older and younger controls participated and aged 66.4 ± 13.0, 68.3 ± 8.2 and 28.7 ± 2.6 years old, respectively. The most common oral symptom in the GERD patients was oral dryness. Salivary flow volume and swallowing function in the GERD patients were significantly lower than in either of the controls (all P < 0.05). Inflammatory oral mucosal regions were found only in the GERD patients. The DMF indices, as a measure of dental caries, in the GERD patients were higher than in the younger controls (P < 0.001), but lower than in the older controls (P = 0.033). The PMA gingival indexes, as a measurement for gingival inflammation, and OHI-S, as a measure for oral hygiene, in the GERD patients were significantly higher than in either of the controls (all P < 0.05). Though no significant differences in BMI, the existence of alcohol and tobacco use were found, bruxism, as an exacerbation factor of periodontal disease, in the GERD patients was significantly more frequent than in either control group (P = 0.041).ConclusionsOSTDs were associated with GERD, which was similar to the association between DE and GERD.

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The aim of this retrospective clinical study was to evaluate the applicability of newly developed uncalcined and unsintered hydroxyapatite (u-HA) particles and poly-L-lactide (PLLA; u-HA/PLLA) composite sheets with tack fixation for navigation-assisted orbital fracture reconstruction. Osteosynthetic bone fixation and reconstruction systems made from u-HA/PLLA composites have recently drawn attention for effective application in maxillofacial bone surgery because of their osteoconductive properties and bioresorbability. One limitation of these systems in the clinical setting, however, is the complicated drill hole tapping that is required for screw fixation. Herein, we report the feasible application of a u-HA/PLLA sheet with tack fixation for intraoperative navigation-assisted orbital wall reconstruction; this approach may be suitable for fragile and anatomically complicated periorbital-maxillofacial bony regions. The study included 9 patients (mean age, 46.6 years) with moderate and medium complexity to large and high complexity orbital wall defects (3 type II defects and 6 type III). The mean follow-up period was 8.9 months (range, 6 to 18 months). Overall, the application of the u-HA/PLLA sheet with tack fixation gave excellent stability for orbital wall reconstruction at the infraorbital rim, and produced satisfactory ophthalmologic functional results with no intraoperative or postoperative complications. This material may be an optimal bioactive, osteoconductive, and bioresorbable bone alternative for orbital wall reconstruction with fewer complications in patients with orbital fractures.