Objectives: Acid regurgitation from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can cause dissolution of tooth structure. This longitudinal clinical study aimed to measure tooth surface loss associated with GERD.
Methods: Vinyl polysiloxane impressions were collected from 12 GERD and 6 control subjects at baseline and six months (IRB#0701M00222). Dental stone replicas from the impressions were digitized using an optical scanner (LAVA Scan ST, 3M ESPE). Three-dimensional differences in tooth surfaces between the baseline and 6-month recalls were analyzed (Cumulus software) and reported as volume loss (mm3). Total volume loss per tooth, volume loss due to erosion only, and volume loss in wear areas with an erosive component (combination of wear at the contact and surrounding noncontact areas) were differentiated.
Results: The analysis showed measurable tooth surface loss in both groups (Table). The number of teeth with surface loss per subject was not significantly different (t-test, p=0.1097), but the volume loss per tooth in subjects with GERD was significantly higher than in the control subjects (t-test, p=0.0134). Three GERD subjects had 16 teeth with erosion only and eight GERD subjects had 22 teeth with erosive component. One control subject had one tooth with erosion.
| Mean (SD) | |
GERD | Control | |
Number of teeth with surface loss per subject | 9.0 (4.3) | 6.7 (1.4) |
Total volume loss per tooth | 0.182 (0.118) | 0.061 (0.031) |
Volume loss per tooth due to erosion only | 0.168 (0.153) | 0.026 |
Volume loss per tooth with erosive component | 0.365 (0.272) | - |
Conclusion: The loss of tooth substance in subjects with GERD consisted not only of erosion, but also the wear at contact and surrounding noncontact areas. This study shows that tooth wear in GERD subjects progressed faster than in control subjects.
Acknowledgements: Supported by a grant from the Oral Health Clinical Research Center, School of Dentistry, University of Minnesota, and the Veden Endowment.