THE IMPACT OF COMPREHENSIVE THERAPEUTIC AND PREVENTIVE INTERVENTIONS IN CHILDREN WITH GERD ON INFLAMMATORY MARKERS IN ORAL FLUID

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in children is accompanied not only by lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract but also by marked changes in the oral cavity, including inflammatory processes of the oral mucosa and periodontal tissues. One objective criterion for assessing inflammatory activity and the effectiveness of ongoing therapy is the level of inflammatory markers in oral fluid, which reflects the status of local immune and metabolic homeostasis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of comprehensive therapeutic and preventive interventions in children with gastroesophageal reflux disease on the levels of inflammatory markers in oral fluid. The study included children with clinically and instrumentally confirmed GERD who received comprehensive treatment involving both a gastroenterologist and a dentist. Treatment efficacy was evaluated based on clinical findings, dental status, and changes in oral-fluid inflammatory parameters. The results demonstrated that comprehensive therapeutic and preventive measures reduce the severity of inflammatory processes in the oral cavity, normalize oral-fluid parameters, and improve dental status in children with GERD. These findings support the rationale for an interdisciplinary approach to the management of pediatric gastroesophageal reflux disease and may be used to optimize preventive programs in pediatric dentistry.