Manifestations of pathological changes in teeth and orofacial region in celiac disease

Celiac disease is a lifelong intolerance to gluten which is found in basic cereals as well as in a number of commonly consumed foods. Celiac disease is a condition which is increasingly manifested in a subclinical or oligosymptomatic form or by atypical symptoms. In patients with celiac disease, tooth enamel problems are relatively common, particularly affecting the permanent dentition. They often present with discoloration - off-white, yellow, or with brown spots on the teeth, defective enamel formation, small depressions, or cascading appearance. These defects are symmetrical and most commonly occur in the incisors and molars. Material and method: The paper presents an analysis of a group of 48 patients investigated during a 10-year period (2011-2020), aged 7-20 years, of whom 17 were men (35.4%) and 31 women (64.6%). Patients with celiac disease were most often diagnosed with dental malocclusion, delayed tooth eruption, enamel defects, unequal tooth size as well as recurrent aphthous stomatitis or fissured tongue.

Discussion: Manifestations in the oral cavity are caused, in particular, by insufficient nutrition, primarily lacking the protein component as well as vitamins and trace elements. The changes in teeth are often permanent and cannot be improved without the patient following a gluten-free diet, the only causal treatment for celiac disease.

Conclusion: Patients with celiac disease require a multidisciplinary approach, and good patient cooperation is necessary not only with a gastroenterologist, but also with a dentist. The quality of oral health, including teeth and oral mucosa, often significantly limits the overall health of not only those with celiac disease.

Keywords: celiac disease, teeth, defects, oral cavity.