title: Tooth erosion, gastroesophageal reflux, and salivary buffer capacity.
abstract: To obtain information on the connection between tooth erosion and acid gastroesophageal reflux, 14 patients (mean age, 15.7 years) with tooth erosion were investigated with simultaneous 24-hour pH monitoring in the esophagus and the oral cavity. Salivary parameters were also investigated in a larger group of 62 erosion patients (mean age, 21 years) and compared with a group of 50 controls (mean age, 28 years). No changes in oral pH were observed in a total of 339 acid reflux episodes, not even in long supine reflux episodes. Extended periods of lowered intra-oral pH to the level of 4 to 5 were observed but not connected with gastroesophageal reflux episodes. Significantly more (p < 0.001) erosion patients (34 of 62) had low salivary buffer capacity compared with controls (10 of 50).
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, City Hospital, University of Iceland, Reykjavik.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gudmundsson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kristleifsson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Theodors
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Holbrook
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002021:Buffers; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D014077:Tooth Erosion / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D002021:Buffers