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ENAMEL HYPOPLASIA IN COELIAC CHILDREN: AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY
Coeliac disease is a systemic immune-mediated
primary small bowel disease characterized by
inflammation in the small intestine and is sometimes
called gluten-sensitive enteropathy or celiac sprue.
Patients could have malabsorption, which results in
hypersensitivity to gluten found in cereal products.
This pathology determines effects on the oral cavity,
documented in scientific literature, including dental
erosions, mouth ulcers, angular cheilitis, migratory
glossitis. The purpose of this work is to observe the
prevalence of dental enamel hypoplasia in a sample
of 212 coeliac patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
212 coeliac patients were included in this study,
with a confirmed histological diagnosis, between the
ages of 6 and 12 years. Patients underwent a dental
examination, where it was recorded the possible
presence of enamel hypoplasia, the severity of the
hypoplasia (from the first to the fourth degree), and
which elements were interesting.
RESULTS
162 out of 212 celiac patients had enamel hypoplasia. 60% of them had grade 1, 19% of them
grade 2, 8% grade 3, 14% grade 4. The most
frequently involved elements were incisors (52%
of cases), and molars (26%).
DISCUSSION
Previous works have highlighted a close correlation
between enamel hypoplasia and celiac disease. In
a very recent study of 60 pediatric celiac patients,
the authors pointed out that 20 had these type of
enamel lesions. Another Brazilian study performed
on 40 celiac patients and 40 controlled patients
showed that in the first group 65% had enamel
hypoplasia compared to 35% of non-celiac patients.
Our data highlight, with a much larger sample of the
population, that the correlation is even higher.
CONCLUSION
The recognition of these lesions by the dentist could
be very useful in intercepting an unknown celiac
disease, intervening promptly, and improving the
patient's prognosis and systemic health