Comparison of treatment modalities in burning mouth syndrome

Abstract

Background: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is characterized by a spontaneous burning pain in the oral mucosa without known organic cause or standardized treatment. The aims of this study were to assess and compare the efficacy of clonazepam and diazepam in relieving the symptoms associated with BMS and evaluate for which patients this treatment might be effective by correlating treatment efficacy with underlying psychological status. Methods: The medical records of BMS patients attending an oral medicine private practice (1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004) were reviewed. The patients were then contacted and asked to complete a short questionnaire regarding their response to diazepam ⁄ clonazepam drug therapies. A second group of patients attending the above clinic (n = 30) were asked to fill out a hospital anxiety and depression assessment form in an attempt to correlate treatment success with underlying psychological status. Results: A total of 71.4 per cent of patients treated with clonazepam had partial or complete resolution of their oral symptoms, while 55.1 per cent of patients treated with diazepam had improvement of their oral symptoms. There was no correlation between underlying anxiety or depression and efficacy of benzodiazepine medication. Conclusions: A greater percentage of patients taking clonazepam reported either partial or complete relief of symptoms compared to diazepam. However, the differences were not statistically significant. There was no correlation found between underlying psychopathology and treatment success with benzodiazepines.

Evaluation of the response to treatment and clinical evolution in patients with burning mouth syndrome

“…These results reinforce the promising hypothesis that the aetiopathogeny of the BMS intercedes in a peripheral neurological alteration. There are several studies analyzing the effects of different BMS treatments (10,11,13,17). However, currently, there is no completely effective treatment for BMS.…”

“…Although there are many studies published in the literature, the true aetiopathogeny of this disease still remains unknown, which hinders the advancement of the investigation of a treatment that totally effective (10,11,13,16). Some authors treat these symp-toms with capsaicin (17), some others with acid alpha-lipoic (alone or associated to gabapentin) (18,19), with antidepressants or benzodiacepines, such as clonazepam (7,20-22).…”

Palliative Care Dentistry-a Gratuity for Geriatrics.

“…Some studies have also shown a greater percentage of patients taking clonazepam reporting either partial or complete relief of symptoms compared to diazepam [21]. Neurosurgical exploration of the lingual nerve for glossodynia of neuropathic origin may relieve some of the more distressing symptoms, especially if there is a nodule of scar tissue or neuroma formation at the site of damage to the lingual nerve.…”

Palliative Care Dentistry-A Boon for the Elderly

“…Some studies have also shown a greater percentage of patients taking clonazepam reporting either partial or complete relief of symptoms compared to diazepam [21].…”