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Coeliac-type permanent-tooth enamel defects
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Finland.
Annals of Medicine
|February 1, 1996
Summary
Coeliac-type enamel defects are common in coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis. Dentists can identify these enamel defects to help diagnose silent coeliac disease cases.
Area of Science:
- Dentistry
- Gastroenterology
- Genetics
Background:
- Coeliac-type enamel defects are prevalent in individuals with coeliac disease (gluten-sensitive enteropathy) and dermatitis herpetiformis.
- These enamel defects are also observed in asymptomatic first-degree relatives of coeliac disease patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic link between coeliac-type enamel defects and coeliac disease.
- To highlight the potential role of dental examination in identifying individuals with undiagnosed coeliac disease.
Main Methods:
- Family study analyzing genetic markers (A1;B8;DR3) in individuals with coeliac-type enamel defects.
- Clinical and serological evaluation of patients and their relatives.
Main Results:
- Individuals with coeliac-type enamel defects and their coeliac disease relatives shared similar genetic profiles (A1;B8;DR3).
- Coeliac disease often presents with minimal or no gastrointestinal symptoms, making diagnosis challenging.
Conclusions:
- Coeliac-type enamel defects serve as a potential diagnostic marker for coeliac disease, even in clinically silent cases.
- Dentists and physicians can utilize the presence of these defects to prompt further gastrointestinal and dermatological investigations, including screening tests and biopsies.