Oro-dental lesions in pediatric patients with celiac disease: an observational retrospective clinical study

Abstract

Background and aim: to investigate the correlation between celiac disease and specific oral lesions. Methods: one hundred and fourteen pediatric patients were enrolled and divided into three groups: celiac patients (CD group), patients with malabsorption without celiac disease (non-CD group) and healthy controls. Oral lesions of hard and soft tissues were detected and analyzed by Fisher’s test and odds ratio calculations. Results: a non-random correlation between the three groups and the rate of enamel defects was detected. The CD group showed more severe enamel defects compared to the non-CD group. A non-random association between the three groups and the number of mucous lesions was not observed. Furthermore, malabsorption patterns not related to the celiac disease involved a relatively modest risk of specific enamel defects compared to controls. Conclusions: hypoplastic enamel defects of the permanent teeth could be reliable indicators for celiac disease. The etiology of specific hypoplastic enamel lesions mainly has to be sought in the autoimmune response triggered by gluten, while the malabsorption would play only a minor role. Lesions of the oral mucous membranes should not be considered as specific risk indicators, however, they represent a non-specific marker of malabsorption.