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Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

DOI

10.3906/sag-0909-286

Abstract

Aim: To investigate whether Turkish children with celiac disease (CD) show dental enamel defects (DEDs), recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), teeth missing, and xerostomia, and to compare the results with age- and sex-matched healthy children. Materials and methods: The oral cavity was explored in 81 patients with CD (mean age 8.7 ± 3.7 years; age range 2.5 to 17 years) and in 20 healthy controls. Enamel defects, teeth missing, RAS, and xerostomia were established. Results: Forty-three (53.1%) celiac patients and 5 (25%) control subjects had enamel defects. Enamel defects occurred more frequently in patients (P = 0.025) compared to controls. Regarding RAS, 39 (48.1%) patients and 1 (5%) control had aphthous ulcers (P = 0.0001). Teeth missing and xerostomia were detected in 11 (13.6%) and 47 (58%) patients, respectively. Patients with xerostomia were significantly greater in number compared to healthy children (P = 0.008). In the present study, the prevalence of DEDs, RAS, and xerostomia was greater in celiac patients than in healthy controls. Conclusion: Early recognition of children with specific DEDs, RAS, and xerostomia and thus their referral to pediatricians might help in early diagnosis of CD.

Keywords

Celiac disease, child, enamel defects, recurrent aphthous stomatitis

First Page

613

Last Page

617

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