Dental Injuries Associated with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Pediatrics

Abstract

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is the physiological passage of gastric contents into the esophagus, present under normal conditions at any age and is one of the most common gastrointestinal problems in children. Nutritional status is adequate and many times above the weight and height percentiles and he is a "happy vomiter" child. In contrast, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is associated with annoying respiratory, digestive symptoms, sleep disorders, dental injuries which in a large number of cases go unnoticed and are noted until they have caused significant damage and can go from itching, burning of the mucosa, increased tooth and tongue sensitivity, bitter taste, erosions to dental caries, these play an important role in pediatric age, especially when the child has disorders insensorineural and motor functions, such as neurological damage secondary to hypoxic ischemic
encephalopathy, neural tube defects, esophageal atresia, and degenerative diseases. Among the complications of GERD, it is worth noting bronchial aspiration pneumonia, otitis, pharyngotonsillitis, croup and compromise in nutritional status. GERD is of great medical and social importance due to its increased incidence and long-lasting symptoms, as they reduce the quality of life. The ability to distinguish between the clinical manifestations of GER and GERD in the different age groups allows us to identify which patients should be extensively evaluated and managed with conservative treatment or if they need to be referred to the pediatric dentist. Due to the lack of knowledge about dental injuries that occur in GERD, we decided to make this review, since it is very important that health personnel: students, doctors and dentists are able to identify, diagnose and implement appropriate recommendations, give treatment specific both from the medical and dental point of view given the repercussions that these entail and thus derive in a timely manner.