1.Prevalence of erosive wear lesions in Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease patients - A case series
Prema Sukumaran ; Divya Nambiar ; Siti Nurshakina Abdul Kamar ; Nur Azwa Nadia M Zalani ; Rathna Devi Vaithilingam ; Goh Khean Lee
Annals of Dentistry 2021;28(1):1-7
Extra esophageal manifestation of Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) include erosive wear dental
lesions. Early erosive wear lesions in this group of patients can be easily missed as they are accompanied by
few clinical signs and hardly any symptoms. This case series aims to report the prevalence and severity of
erosive wear lesions amongst a sample of GERD patients in Malaysia. Eleven subjects with well characterized
GERD, diagnosed based on modified Reflux Disease Questionnaire (RDQ) or via endoscopy, were included in
this case series. A standardized intra oral clinical examination was performed to assess presence and severity
of erosive wear lesions on tooth surfaces using Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE) index. Majority of
BEWE score 1 lesions were distributed in maxillary anterior teeth, followed by maxillary posterior and
mandibular teeth. BEWE score 2 lesions were most prevalent in maxillary anterior teeth and there were no
BEWE score 3 lesions observed. Based on the clinical findings, more erosive wear lesions were found on the
buccal surfaces of maxillary and mandibular teeth in GERD patients. This case series further confirms the link
between GERD and erosive wear lesions. The authors would like to highlight the need for both medical and
dental practitioners to be aware of early clinical presentations of GERD and erosive wear lesions. Early
diagnoses allow for intervention and conservative management of these conditions.