Gastroesophageal reflux disease: gaining control over heartburn

Saliva with reduced calcium and phosphorous concentrations: Effect on erosion dental lesions

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether saliva formulations with reduced calcium (Ca) and inorganic phosphorous (Pi) concentration would affect dental erosion caused by hydrochloric acid (HCl).

METHODS

Enamel and root dentine bovine slabs were embedded, polished, and measured for surface Knoop microhardness (SMH). After reference areas were created, specimens were exposed to HCl solution (0.01 M; pH 2; 120 s) and immersed in artificial salivas (6 hr) containing three different Ca/Pi concentrations (n = 15), which simulate serum conditions of normo-, mild, or severe hypocalcemia. The control group was immersed in Ca/Pi-free saliva. The study protocol was carried out 2×/day for 5 days. Surface loss of enamel and root dentine was assessed using an optical profilometer, and SMH was remeasured for enamel.

RESULTS

One-way analysis of variance (p < .001) and Tukey's test showed that enamel loss in groups subjected to artificial salivas that simulated mild or severe hypocalcemia did not differ from that resembling normocalcemia. %SMH was lower when saliva was mildly and normally concentrated in Ca/Pi (p < .001). Root dentine loss was higher in saliva simulating severe hypocalcemia than in those referring to mild, hypo-, and normocalcemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Depending on the dental substrate, salivary formulations resembling serum hypocalcemia affected surface loss due to erosion and rehardening thereof.

Intralesional steroid injection therapy

Recently, a different therapeutic option for patients with benign esophageal strictures was introduced in our gastroenterology unit. Causes of these strictures, preliminary treatment, pathophysiology, the actual procedure, and possible complications of the procedure are discussed.