Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Dental Erosion in Brazilian Children

Objectives: To evaluate dental erosion (DE) experience in Brazilian children and adolescents with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and its association with time of diagnosis and the use of GERD medication.

Methods: This cross-sectional study encompassed 43 patients (2-14 years) from the University Hospital in Belo Horizonte, southeastern Brazil, diagnosed positive for GERD by the 24-hour pH monitoring. DE was assessed by one calibrated examiner using O'Sullivan index. Parents self-completed a questionnaire about the use of medication and time of diagnosis. Data analysis was performed by Fisher’s chi-square test (p< 0.05).

Results: Dental erosion was observed in 25.6% (n=11) of the patients and its severity was mostly enamel only (82.8%). DE in dentin occurred only in patients diagnosed for over two years who also had almost three times higher prevalence of DE. However this result was not statistically significant. The current use of GERD medication was not statistically significantly related to dental erosion either.

Conclusions: About one-fourth of the children and adolescents with GERD had DE, which was not statistically significantly related to the time of diagnosis neither to the use of GERD medication.