EFFECTS OF GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX ON THE ORAL CAVITY

Citation
Da. Lazarchik et Sj. Filler, EFFECTS OF GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX ON THE ORAL CAVITY, The American journal of medicine, 103, 1997, pp. 107-113
Citations number
29
ISSN journal
00029343
Volume
103
Year of publication
1997
Supplement
5A
Pages
107 - 113
Database
ISI
SICI code
0002-9343(1997)103:<107:EOGROT>2.0.ZU;2-A
Abstract
The effects of chronic exposure of the oral cavity to gastric acid can be many and varied. Soft tissue symptoms (nonspecific burning and sen sitivity) have been mentioned in the literature, but pathognomonic sof t tissue lesions have not been documented. Dental erosion can be consi dered to be the predominant oral manifestation of gastroesophageal ref lux disease. Erosion begins with subtle changes in the surface enamel and can progress to severe loss of tooth substance. Because the causes of such tooth lesions may be multifactorial, combining the effects of erosion, attrition, and abrasion and because of the subtle changes pr esent in the beginning stages of such lesions, diagnosis may be diffic ult. Although the basic mechanism of erosion in gastroesophageal reflu x patients is the dissolution of enamel and dentin due to acid exposur e, a multitude of other factors can modify the effects of gastric acid . Salivary parameters, in particular, may play an important role in af fecting oral pH after reflux episodes. Once dental erosion is diagnose d, thorough evaluation is necessary to document the extent of damage a nd to detect a cause, which may have both intrinsic and extrinsic comp onents. Treatment goals include eliminating the causes of acid exposur e, preventing the effects of acid exposure when it is not controllable , treating symptoms of soft tissue irritation and dental erosion, and restoring the dentition to an esthetically and functionally acceptable level. (C) 1997 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.