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

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a very common digestive disorder, which occurs when the acidic contents of the stomach returns into the esophagus to some extent, reaching the mouth, thereby increasing the frequency of dental erosion and caries. Since saliva plays a huge role in oral homeostasis, it is important to examine the role of this parameter in the appearance of the above mentioned oral lesions. The aim of our study was evaluate the oral condition of children suffering from reflux disease and to assess the relationship between salivary pH and the incidence of dental erosion and caries. In this prospective study we examined 25 children diagnosed with GERD, referred for hospitalization. Bedside intra-oral examination (DMFT index, gingival index) and strip method pH value determination was performed. We observed that patients with low pH values had increased caries frequency, and dental erosion was also noticeable. Statistical significance was determined comparing the DMFT index in groups with different pH values. We concluded that the high number of erosions is closely related to gastroesophageal reflux disease, as a consequence of the low pH value, which represents the main cause of oral manifestations in GERD.