Dental erosion, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and saliva: how are they related?

摘要

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of tooth wear, symptoms of reflux and salivary parameters in a group of patients referred for investigation of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) compared with a group of control subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tooth wear, stimulated salivary flow rate and buffering capacity and symptoms of GORD were assessed in patients attending an Oesophageal Laboratory. Patients had manometry and 24-h pH tests, which are the gold standard for the diagnosis of GORD. Tooth wear was assessed using a modification of the Smith and Knight tooth wear index. The results were compared to those obtained from a group of controls with no symptoms of GORD. RESULTS: Patients with symptoms of GORD and those subsequently diagnosed with GORD had higher total and palatal tooth wear (p<0.05). The buffering capacity of the stimulated saliva from the control subjects was greater than patients with symptoms of GORD (p<0.001). Patients with hoarseness had a lower salivary flow rate compared with those with no hoarseness. CONCLUSIONS: Tooth wear involving dentine was more prevalent in patients complaining of symptoms of GORD and those diagnosed as having GORD following 24-h pH monitoring than controls. Patients had poorer salivary buffering capacity than control subjects. Patients complaining of hoarseness had lower salivary flow rate than controls.