Gastroesophageal reflux disease and dental erosion. A case report and review of the literature
Carlaio, R.G.; Grassi, R.F.; Losacco, T.; Bottalico, L.; Santacroce, L.
La Clinica Terapeutica 158(4): 349-353
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-9074 PMID: 17953287 Document Number: 607814
The term gastroesophageal reflux refers to the regurgitation of gastric material into the oesophagus. When the reflux is accompanied by inflammation of the oesophageal mucosa and extra-oesophageal symptoms the complaint is classified as a pathological condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD is caused by backward expulsion of the gastric content into the oesophagus. It is characterized by a complex clinical picture that may include lesions of the oesophageal mucosa and lesions of a different nature and severity of the respiratory and stomatognathic apparatus. GERD is considered to be a proteiform complaint induced by many different pathogenetic mechanisms resulting in a wide spectrum of clinical and morphological manifestations secondary to the reflux. Among extra-oesophageal manifestations, those affecting the dental structures are particularly important, owing to their aesthetic and functional implications on the stomatognathic apparatus. The Authors present a recently observed and treated case of GERD with associated severe aesthetic lesions of the frontal teeth. The currently available treatment options for the primary disease are examined, as well as the possible forms of conservative treatment of the affected teeth.