Prevalence of Erosive Tooth Sensitivity in Patients with GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is the passage of gastric contents into the esophagus, and GERD is symptom or complication of GER. The most common extra oral manifestation of GERD is a progressive, irreversible loss of dental hard tissues due to a chemical process not involving bacteria. Tooth sensitivity is a common complaint in local population. Because of dietary habits, GERD is a prevalent condition in local region as well. To study the prevalence of dental wear and sensitivity in patients with gastric problems, an observational study was conducted. Sample size was 210 patients examined in different dental clinics and hospitals of Lahore. A questionnaire was used to collect data covering various aspects. Out of recruited subjects showing symptoms of GERD, only 38% people were diagnosed with GERD. All the recruited subjects were having dental problems and out of them 38% considered visiting dentist. The study showed that many respondents used to consume citrus fruits, carbonated drinks; tea/coffee frequently. Effective outcome of dental erosion treatment requires counseling and oral hygiene information. This study determined the GERD patients were at higher risk of developing dental erosion compared to the healthy individuals in a sample of Pakistani population.