Complete oral rehabilitation in a patient with dental erosion caused by gastroesophageal reflux

Abstract

Introduction: dental erosion is the irreversible loss of tooth structure due to a chemical process, without the presence of bacteria; caused by the action of acids that can be of extrinsic or intrinsic origin or both. Some of the signs of dental erosion include smooth, flat facets on the palatal and buccal surfaces and superficial concavities on the occlusal surfaces. An intrinsic cause is the presence of acid from gastroesophageal reflux; extrinsic causes have to do with a high intake of acidic foods. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been associated with dental problems such as erosion, halitosis, mucosal pathology, and bruxism. Different procedures can be found for the oral rehabilitation of patients with GERD; among them are adhesive procedures that preserve a healthier tooth structure. Objective: to report the case of a patient with dental erosion caused by GERD. Case presentation: a 32-year-old male patient was attended at the Prosthodontics Clinic During the intraoral examination, attrition due to bruxism and generalized erosions caused by gastrointestinal reflux were observed. Restoration of dental erosion should be based on a conservative and minimally invasive approach. Complete rehabilitation was performed based on the three-step technique described by Francesca Vailati, Urs Cristoph Belser; it is structured to achieve a complete adhesive rehabilitation with predictable results and with a minimal amount of tooth preparation. Conclusions: restorative therapy of dental erosion should be based on a minimally invasive approach. Gastroesophageal reflux disease has been associated with dental problems such as dental erosion, halitosis, mucosal pathology, and bruxism. In general, patients with GERD report oral manifestations of the disease, revealing the importance of multidisciplinary treatment and follow-up to the patients.