2. Thilanka Umesh Sugathadasa Page 1
Oral Manifestations of Gastrointestinal Disorders
1. Gastro- esophageal reflux disease
2. Crohn’s disease
3. Ulcerative colitis
4. Oro facial granulomatosis
5. Gardner’s syndrome
6. Peutz- jeghers syndrome
7. Malabsorption conditions affecting hematopoiesis
8. Metastatic disease to the jaws
9. Jaundice
Condition Features Clinical/Dental features Diagnosis & Mx
Oesophagea
l
disease(Refl
ux
oesophagitis
- Gastro-
Oesophagea
l reflux
disease-
GORD)
Backflow of acid from
stomach in to
oesophagus.
One of the most
common type of
dyspepsia.
Considered to be due
to hiatal
(diaphragmatic)
hernias.
GORD is predisposed
by
- GI disease like high
acidity in stomach
content & impaired
gastric mobility.
- Extra-GI conditions
such as obesity, large
meals, smoking,
alcohol
Can be caused by
increased acid
production & defect in
the sphincters
Symptoms
- Heart burns
- Burning sensation behind
the sternum
- Most commonly felt after
the meals
- Acid taste
Signs
- Tooth erosion
- Stricture(Acid in
oesophagus-Irritation--
Fibrosis-Strictures--Fe
absorption)
Dental aspect
- Dental erosion typically in
palatal aspect of upper
anterior teeth & premolars.
- Clinically, enamel is lost
over broad areas of the
teeth that are exposed to
the gastric contents.
- In bulimics, it is commonly
seen & is most severe on the
maxillary anterior
teeth.(Bulimia- self induced
vomiting can see changes in
the palatal mucosa also).
-Eroded enamel is smooth,
shiny & hard. If it become
thin enough, yellowish
DD
- Candidal
oesophagitis(seen in
immunocompromised pts
or Aplastic anemic pts. )
- Chemical burns from
acids/ NSAIDS
General Mx
- Reducing weight
- Raising head at least 4
inches at night.
- Taking frequent meals
with antacids.(Aluminium
hydroxide)
- H2 blockers
- Proton pump inhibitors
(more effective)
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colour of dentin becomes
visible & teeth may become
sensitive to temperature
changes.
- Once enamel has eroded, it
is not replaceable
physiologically though the
patient may need dental
restorative Rx.
- Because enamel erosion is
directly proportional to the
contact time with gastric
acid, can get some idea of
frequency & duration of
reflux problem by assessing
amount of enamel loss.
Crohn’s
disease
See oral Ulceration
part
Inflammatory
condition of unknown
cause.
With UC named as
Inflammatory Bowel
disease.
Inflammation extends
up to lining of the
affected organs.
Differences between
UC & CD presents in
Oral ulceration note.
CD appears to be
heterogeneous group
of disorders probably
caused by commensal
bacteria in people
with genetically
determined
dysregulation of
mucosal T
lymphocytes.
Inflammation
mediated by TNF
Sub mucosal chronic
inflammation with
many mononuclear,
Clinical features
- Common in ileoceacal
region, but can affects any
part of GI tract.
- Ulceration, fissuring &
Fibrosis os walls.
- Manifestations are depend
on severity & affected site.
- Complication include
weight loss, GI obstruction,
Internal/ External fistula,
Perianal fissures, Abcesses,
Arthralgia, Renal damage
Dental features
- Ulcers
- Facial/ labial swelling
- Mucosal tags
- Cobblestone proliferation
of mucosa(Irregular swelling
with fibrosis in between)
- Angular cheilitis
- May be caused by CD itself
or by nutritional deficiencies
Some patients may have
asymptomatic intestinal
disease or some may
develop it later.
Dental Mx may be
complicated by
Malabsorption &
Steroids/immunocompra
mise therapy.
NSAIDs should be
avoided.(Can induce
gastric ulceration)
Antibiotics that could
aggravate diarrhea
should be avoided(Co-
amoxiclave &
Clindamycine)
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interleukin producing
cells.
Non caseating
granuloma form in sub
mucosa & lymph
nodes
Melkerson Rosenthal
Syndrome & Cheilitis
granulomatosa are
incomplete manifestations of
CD.
OFG
Group of diseases
characterized by
noncaseating type
granulomatous
inflammation affecting
soft tissues of Oral &
maxillofacial region.
- Melkersson-
Rosenthal syndrome
- Cheilitis
granulomatosa
(Swelling restricted to
the lips,)
Precise cause is
unknown but can be
infections, genetic
predisposition, Allergy
Recently researchers
have identified a
monoclonal
lymphocytic expansion
& suggested it could
be secondary to
chronic antigenic
stimulation.
Cytokine which
produce by the
lymphocytic clone
could be responsible
for the formation of
granulomas.
However,
immunologic
origin(cell- mediated
hypersensitivity
reaction) is favoured
because of presence
of activated helper T
lymphocytes
expressing IL-2
receptors.
Clinical features
- Non-tender recurrent
labial swelling that
eventually becomes
persistent.
- Swelling may affect one or
both lips, causing lip
hypertrophy (macrocheilia)
- Swelling is initially soft but
becomes firmer with time
due to fibrosis.
- Recurrent facial swelling,
may affects chin, cheeks,
periorbital region & eyelids.
- Rarely may not be
associated with lip
hypertrophy.
- Intraoral involvement may
take the form of
hypertrophy, erythema or
nonspecific erosions
involving the gingiva, oral
mucosa or tongue.
Diagnostic dilemma may be
further complicated by
systemic diseases such as
crohn’s disease, sarcoidosis,
DD of persistent lip swelling
- Angioedema(Idiopathic/
hereditary)
- Sarcoidosis
- Crohn’s disease
- OFG
- Specific infections(TB/
leprosy & deep fungal
infection)
- Amyloidosis
- Tumors(Tissue or minor
salivary gland tumor)
Diagnosis is mainly by
exclusion
Rx is difficult due to
absence of etiologic
factors.
Rx objectives are to
improve pts clinical
appearance & comfort
Spontaneous remission
possible.
Eliminate the
odontogenic infections
1st
line Rx
- Local or systemic
corticosteroids.
- intralesional
triamcinolone 10mg/ml
(Recently higher
concentrations -
40mg/ml) due to
injection volume become
less.
systemic steroids
therapy is limited now
due to complications &
recurrent nature.
- With steroids results
are immediate
- Relapses are common
Complications
- Skin atrophy
- Hypopigmentation
Other
- Thalydomide
- Methotrxate
- Metronidazole
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Ulcerative
Colitis
Inflammatory bowel
disease.
Affecting part or
whole large intestine,
frequently lower
colon & rectum.
Cause inflammation
& ulcers in superficial
layers of large
intestine mucosa
followed by pseudo
polyp formation.
Diarrhea with mucus +blood
+pus
Pain, fever, anorexia
Extra abdominal signs are
minimal
Commonest complication is
Iron deficiency anaemia.
Skin lesions present like
Erythema nodosum.
Carcinoma
Dental aspect
Oral manifestations are
rare.
Chronic ulceration can be
occur. (Polystomatitis
gangrenosum)
Polystomatitis vegetans
(Multiple intraepithelial
micro abscesses)
Lesions related to anaemia
Antibiotics & NSAIDS
should be avoided.
Gardner’s
syndrome
Autosomal dominant
condition
Genetic defect on the
chromosome 5
Characterized by the
intestinal polyposis
with a very high risk
of malignant
transformation into
colonic
adenocarcinoma.
Head & Neck manifestations
- Multiple enostoses (bone growth within the bony cavity)
of the jaws
- Supernumerary & or unerupted teeth
- Increased risk of odontomas(Compound)
- Osteomas of the jaws & paranasal sinuses.
- Epidermoid cyst in the skin of Head & Neck.
Peutz-
jeghers
syndrome
Associate with
harmatomatous
polyposis, mostly of
small intestine
Autosomal dominant.
Intraorally, lesions are
usually flat, painless, brown
pigmented patches of
buccal mucosa, tongue or
labial mucosa.
No Rx required to
pigmented lesion unless
there are cosmetic or
social reason.
Malabsorpti
on
condition
affecting
hematopoie
sis
GI diseases related to
protein- caloric
malnutrition or
micronutrient
Malabsorption may
have an effect(Iron)
Atrophic tongue
Ulcer with bright red border
Burning
sensation(glossopyrosis)
Angular cheilitis
Candidal infection
Antifungal
Remove the cause.
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Metastatic
disease to
the jaws
Malignant neoplasms of liver & GI tract occasionally metastasize to oral region
commonly posterior mandible, through hematogenous route.
Vertebral plexes of veins considered as primary mechanisms whereby these tumors
bypass the right heart- lung capillary bed.
Asymptomatic
Pain
Paresthesia
Loosening of teeth
Radiographs shows irregular, poorly circumscribed & often multifocal radiolucencies
Less commonly metastases may involve the maxilla or oral soft tissues
Jaundice
Excess bilirubin in blood results in accumulation of bilirubin in tissues, including oral
mucosa(Yellow)
Lingual frenum & soft palate are higherly affected(which contain elastin)
Careful with persons who eats large amount of Vit A
Yellowish to greenish pigmentation can be seen in the teeth of children with
hyperbilirubinemia during calcification