engleski

Improving Diagnosis and Management of Burning Mouth Syndrome

Objectives: Complex approaches to diagnosing and managing patients presenting with chronic burning sensations on healthy oral mucosa did not bring us closer to treatment success superior to placebo. Our aim is to explore and utilize one particular property of BMS, that symptom decreases during meals. This property is mentioned in literature, but never reached the deserved attention. It is not universally accepted, nor it is included in any of existing definitions of BMS. Most clinicians would encounter it among patients, but there are no estimates of extent of this property in BMS population. The aim of this study is to determine this effect’s extent, as well as to find out whether it is primarily effect of mastication or gustatory stimulation. Methods: We report 49 consecutive BMS patients seen due to spontaneous oral burning, with normal oral mucosa at the sites of pain. We timed the onset of alleviation and resolution of pain following beginning of chewing a piece of paraffin or melting a candy. We also measured the time to symptom return, following the stopping of the respective stimuli. Symptom oscillations were recorded by 0-10 Numerical Pain Rating Scale. Results: In all but one subjects (N = 48) there was an improvement, 90% had a temporary complete remission to at least one of the stimuli. Improvement begins during the 1st minute, and maximum effect is obtained within 3 minutes. Wearing out of effect upon the end of the stimulation occurs within minutes, returning to symptom level before start of stimulation. Conclusions: Every but one consecutive patient felt marked improvement, most of them having complete response. This reliable property solves both major issues regarding BMS: its accurate and fast diagnosis (without any expenses) and temporary symptom management (without any side effects). This property deserves inclusion in definition of BMS.

Burning Mouth Syndrome, Diagnosis, Management, Oral Mucosa

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