Evaluation of the relationship between dental erosion and scintigraphically detected gastroesophageal reflux in patients with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the relationship between dental erosion (DE) and scintigraphically detected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in patients with cerebral palsy (CP). Materials and methods: Included in the study were 21 CP patients with dental erosion and a control group consisting of 16 CP patients without dental erosion (total of 37 children; 19 male, 18 female; mean age: 12.1 ± 2.8 years). The severity of DE was scored and all patients underwent gastroesophageal reflux scintigraphy. Results: The prevalence of GERD in patients with DE (78.9%) was found to be significantly higher than that in patients without DE (21.1%). The number of teeth affected by erosion was significantly higher in GERD+ patients than in GERD- patients within the DE group [median (quarters): GERD+, 14 (12-20); GERD-, 4 (4-4)]. In patients with DE, a significant correlation between the severity of erosion and the presence of GERD was observed [median (quarters): GERD+, 2 (1-3); GERD-, 1 (1-1)] and there was a statistically significant difference between the distribution of interference ratios in multisurface and 1- or 2-surface affected teeth (χ2 = 41.827, df = 1, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The current study has shown that there is a strong correlation between DE and GERD in children with CP. © TÜBİTAK.