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.