“…The control population was represented in 21 studies [ 21 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 45 , 47 ]. In most studies, validated instrumental examination methods were used to diagnose GERD ( n = 17) [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 38 , 42 , 43 , 44 ], and dental examination was used to diagnose DE using validated Eccles and Jenkins criteria ( n = 7) [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 28 , 29 , 31 ], Smith and Knight ( n = 6) [ 26 , 27 , 30 , 32 , 39 ,…”