Oral Health of Children with Gastro‐Esophageal Reflux Disease: A Controlled Study

Abstract

Background:The aim of this study was to compare the dental health of children with gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) with a healthy control group. Methods: Dental examinations were conducted for 52 children (31 boys and 21 girls) with a definitive history of GERD. For every subject enrolled in the study, a healthy control sibling without the condition was recruited. Medical histories were obtained from medical records, and dental and dietary histories were obtained from parents. The teeth were examined for erosion, dental caries, and enamel hypoplasia, and sampled for Streptococcus mutans. Results: The prevalence of erosion by teeth was found to be statistically significant between GERD patients (14 per cent) and controls (10 per cent) (p<0.05). GERD patients had erosion in more permanent teeth compared to controls (4 per cent vs 0.8 per cent, p<0.05), and more severe erosion (p<0.05). Caries experience was also higher in GERD patients compared to controls (p<0.05). Although there were more subjects with Streptococcus mutans in the GERD group compared to the control group (42 per cent vs 25 per cent), the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Children with GERD have more erosion and dental caries compared to healthy controls and should be targeted for increased preventive and restorative care.

Dental Erosion in Brazilian Children with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

“…Studies in Australia [9] and Turkey [8] that compared DE in children with GERD with a control group found that children with GERD had more dental erosion experience than did those without GERD. The present study did not aim to associate GERD with DE, because only children with GERD were examined.…”

“…However in a blinded study with children with and without symptoms of GER the proportion of teeth affected by DE was similar [10]. There is insufficient information in the literature evaluating the associated factors of DE in children with GERD [9]. The identification of the risk factors is increasingly important to establish preventive measures, especially in individuals with GERD.…”

“…Some studies have evaluated the occurrence of DE in children with GERD comparing with a control group without GERD, showing that GERD patients had a higher prevalence of DE [8,9]. However in a blinded study with children with and without symptoms of GER the proportion of teeth affected by DE was similar [10].…”

Original Research. Evaluation of Dental Erosion in a Group of Romanian Children Diagnosed with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

“…After histological and symptoms-based diagnosis of GERD, the difference between dental erosion in GERD patients compared with subjects of a control group showed statistical significance; although these lesions were found on permanent teeth only, increased caries frequency was also found. 12 Other studies showed a strong correlation between salivary pH, dental erosion incidence and caries frequency as well. 13,14 Besides GERD, many other factors can contribute to a low pH value; these are the so-called cariogenic factors such as bacteria, oral hygiene, diet, drugs.…”

“…18 Although several studies have demonstrated that the extremely high acidity reduces bacterial growth, the mainly acidic oral environment in GERD may contribute to increased levels of acid-producing S. mutans bacteria, which will lead to increased caries frequency and other types of structural alterations of the enamel, such as dental erosion. 19 …”