Oral and dental manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease in children: a preliminary study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of gastroeophageal reflux disease (GERD) on: (1) erosion; (2) caries formation; (3) salivary function; and (4) salivary microbiological counts.

METHODS

Thirty-eight GERD patients with a mean age of 6 1/2 years and 42 healthy children of the same age and gender and social background comprised the study group. All subjects answered a detailed frequency questionnaire related to acidic drinks, foods, and sugar consumption and participated in a clinical dental examination. The caries experience of the children was recorded according to World Health Organization criteria, and erosion was scored according to the Eccles and Jenkins grading scale. The children were also investigated for stimulated salivary flow rate, buffer capacity, and salivary mutans streptococci (MS), lactobacilli, and yeast colonization.

RESULTS

The prevalence of dental erosion and the salivary yeast and MS colonization in GERD children was found to be significantly higher than for healthy subjects (P<.05). The caries experience, salivary flow rate, buffering capacities of the children, and frequency of acidic drinks, foods, and sugar consumption were found to be similar in both groups.

CONCLUSION

This current investigation has shown that GERD children were at an increased risk of developing erosion and caries compared with healthy subjects.