Burning Issues in the Treatment of Burning Mouth Syndrome: An Evidence- Based Study of the Literature

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Burning Issues in the Treatment of Burning Mouth Syndrome: An Evidence- Based Study of the Literature

A b s t r a c t
Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is defined as a chronic pain condition, characterized
symptomatically by a generalized or localized burning sensation in the oral cavity. This review was based on evidence from electronic search engines, textbooks and independent interviews from experts in the field. A total of 8 relevant articles were analyzed, looking at the use of hormone replacement therapy, benzodiazepines/anti-convulsants, anti-depressants, analgesics,
Capsaicin, alpha-lipoic acid and cognitive behavioural therapy, as treatment options. These articles were critically appraised using an Ïintervention checklistÓ. The use of capsaicin, alphalipoic acid, cognitive behavioural therapy and clonazepam were shown to reduce the symptoms of BMS patients, while hormone replacement therapy, anti-depressants and analgesics were shown to be ineffective. Current knowledge of interventions for the treatment of BMS appears to be incomplete. Thus, future studies are required, in order to solidify the means in which clinicians diagnose, manage and treat patients suffering from this chronic and painful syndrome.

By: Daniel Charland, Andrew Heinola, Anita Luk, Michael Puksa, Athina
Tahmintzoglou and Tessa Von Den Steinen

Complete article may be viewed online.