Abstract
ObjectiveTo investigate the presence of changes in vibration detection and pressure pain threshold in patients with burning-mouth syndrome (BMS).Design of the studyCase-control study. The sample was composed of 30 volunteers, 15 with BMS and 15 in the control group. The pressure-pain threshold (PPT) and vibration-detection threshold (VDT) were examined. The clinical evaluation was complemented with the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4) and Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories (BDI and BAI, respectively).ResultsBMS subjects showed a statistically significant higher PPT in the tongue (p = 0.002), right (p = 0.001) and left (p = 0.004) face, and a significant reduction of the VDT in the tongue (p = 0.013) and right face (p = 0.030). Significant differences were also found when comparing the PPT and the VDT of distinct anatomical areas. However, a significant interaction (group × location) was only for the PPT. BMS subjects also showed significantly higher levels of depression (p = 0.01), as measured by the BDI, compared to controls; and a significant inverse correlation between the VDT in the left face and anxiety levels was detected.ConclusionsThe study of somatosensory changes in BMS and its correlations with the clinical features as well as the levels of anxiety and depression expands current understanding of the neuropathic origin and the possible contribution of psychogenic factors related to this disease.
Highlights
Burning-mouth syndrome (BMS) is usually described as a burning sensation in the oral and perioral regions, in the absence of clinical and laboratory findings [1]
Several factors may be involved in the BMS etiology
The diagnosis of BMS participants was carried out based on a meticulous clinical investigation of the oral cavity in order to exclude local causes that could be related to the clinical complaint, combined with a laboratory analysis to eliminate any systemic cause of burning or sore mouth
Summary
Burning-mouth syndrome (BMS) is usually described as a burning sensation in the oral and perioral regions, in the absence of clinical and laboratory findings [1]. The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) has defined BMS as an “intraoral chronic burning pain wherein local or systemic causes cannot be identified.”. The burning-mouth sensation affects more than one anatomical location, usually with bilateral representation [2]. Several factors may be involved in the BMS etiology. Among them are local and systemic causes, including endocrine, immunological and nutritional changes, as well as psychogenic factors [7,8,9]. The etiology and pathophysiology of BMS are still unclear and constitute an enormous challenge for health-care providers and researchers [1, 12]
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