• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.161-171
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• 2001

In order to determine how oral mucosal change relates to inducing factors of burning mouth syndrome, the difference in pain perception scale and keratinization rate between burning mouth syndrome patients and normal subjects were investigated. Twenty patients (13 female, 7 male, mean age: 59 years), presenting in the Department of Oral Medicine, Chonnam National University Hospital were participated in this study. All subjects had been complaining of constant oral burning pain for more than a year, none took any strong analgesics, and none had oral mucosal lesions. Twenty volunteers (11 females, 9 males, mean age: 25 years) were also participated in this study as a control group. The control subjects had never had any symptoms of oral burning pain. A thermal stimulation using a Nd-YAG laser and cytological smear were carried out to anterodorsal part of tongue, tip of tongue, the left buccal mucosa, the lower lip mucosa and the chief complaint site. Stimulation of the dorsum of left hand was also carried out to contrast the mucosal area of burning mouth syndrome subjects and the control subjects. The laser output power could be adjusted from 0.75W to 4W. The pain perception scale of the burning mouth syndrome subjects were lower than in control subjects in the chief complaint area, the anterodorsal part of tongue and the buccal mucosa(p<0.01). The keratinization rate of burning mouth syndrome subjects, however, was higher keratinization rate than in normal subjects in the same area and lower lip mucosa(p<0.001). From above results, the anterodorsal part of tongue is the most appropriate site to use diagnostic laser stimulation. The higher level of keratinization and the lower level of thermal pain perception of the burning mouth syndrome subjects are explained as a protective mechanism against xerostomia and burning sensations. The application of Nd-YAG laser stimuli and cytological smear to oral mucosal surface could therefore be usefully employed as appropriate and standardized diagnostic tools for chronic orofacial pain subjects.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.167-172
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• 2008

Objective : This study shows the clinical effects on Bee-venom acupuncture and Burning acupuncture therapy for a patient who was diagnosed as Rheumatoid arthritis with ankle pain. Methods : This study was carried out a patient who was diagnosed as Rheumatoid arthritis with ankle pain. The patient was treated by Bee-venom acupuncture, Burning acupuncture therapy. To evaluate the effect of treatment, measured grade of pain by Visual Analogue Scale(VAS). Result and Conclusion: The ankle pain was reduced from VAS 10 to VAS 2 and the patient could walk on foot. In this study, Bee-venom acupuncture, Burning acupuncture therapy was effective in arthralgia of Rheumatoid arthritis.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.294-296
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• 2014

Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) is defined as a chronic orofacial pain syndrome, without evidence of mucosal lesions and other clinical signs of disease or laboratory abnormalities. Patients with BMS complain of burning pain in the mouth, xerostomia and taste disturbances. It is more common among women and the median age of occurrence is about 60 years. BMS may be primary or secondary to other diseases. The mainstay in the treatment of BMS includes antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and anticonvulsants. A few cases of BMS caused due to medication have been reported. The causative drugs include angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, anticoagulants, antipsychotics, antiretrovirals, and benzodiazepines. This is a case report of a patient on antidepressants who developed symptoms of BMS thereby causing a dilemma in management.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.48 no.9
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• pp.688-695
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• 2010

Burning mouth disorders (sometimes referred to as burning mouth syndrome) are characterized by a burning sensation in the tongue or other oral sites, usually in the absence of clinical and laboratory findings. Affected patients often present with multiple oral complaints, including burning, dryness and taste alterations. Burning mouth complaints are reported more often in women, especially after menopause. Typically, patients awaken without pain, but report increasing symptoms through the day and into the evening. Conditions that have been reported in association with burning mouth syndrome include chronic anxiety or depression, various nutritional deficiencies, diabetes and changes in salivary function. However, these conditions have not been consistently linked with the syndrome, and their treatment has had little impact on burning mouth symptoms. Recent studies have pointed to dysfunction of several cranial nerves associated with taste sensation as a possible cause of burning mouth disorders. The most common central mechanism that likely explains burning mouth disorders is a centrally mediated continuous neuropathic pain. Given in low dosages, benzodiazepine, tricyclic antidepressants or anticonvulsants may be effective in patients with burning mouth disorders.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.116-124
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• 2017

Purpose: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a disabling pain that mostly occurs in elderly women, but rarely in men. It is characterized by an unremitting oral burning sensation and pain without detectable oral mucosal changes. We investigated the clinical and hematologic features of middle-aged men with BMS, and compared the results to those of men with oral mucositis. Methods: Five men with BMS ($48.60{\pm}6.19years$) and five age-matched controls with oral mucositis ($49.80{\pm}15.26years$) underwent clinical and psychological evaluations and blood tests. Psychological status was evaluated using the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised. Cortisol, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and antidiuretic hormone (ADH) levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were determined from the blood samples. Results: ADH level was significantly lower in men with BMS than in the controls. ADH levels correlated with testosterone (p<0.01), and ACTH levels strongly correlated with ESR (p<0.05). Progesterone level positively correlated with FSH and LH levels. Pain intensity on a visual analogue scale correlated with estradiol level only in men with BMS. Among psychological factors, the obsessive-compulsive disorder, interpersonal-sensitivity, and anxiety scores were higher in men with BMS than in the controls (p<0.05). However, no correlations were observed between the psychological and hematologic factors in both groups. The BMS symptoms presented only on the tongue, with the lateral border being the most prevalent area. Conclusions: Men with BMS may experience dysregulated endocrinologic or psychoneuroendocrinologic interactions, which might affect oral BMS symptoms, aggravating the severity of the burning sensation.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.131-136
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• 2023

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS), a chronic pain disorder with an unclear etiology, is characterized by a burning sensation in the oral cavity. The absence of objective diagnostic methods for this condition complicates its diagnosis and treatment. Recently, efforts have been ongoing to find biomarkers for the diagnosis and evaluation of patients with BMS. Several studies have reported hematological changes, differences in salivary protein composition, and peripheral neuropathy in the affected oral tissues. This review summarizes the research regarding the objective changes observed in patients with BMS to identify potential diagnostic approaches.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2023

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic idiopathic orofacial pain. BMS is currently classified as a neuropathic pain condition, but it is difficult to pinpoint the precise neuropathic mechanisms involved in each patient. It is challenging to complete the cure for BMS. Clinicians should treat BMS patients based on evidence. There is pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapy in the treatment modalities of BMS. The provision of objective information and reassurance as part of cognitive behavioral therapy is critical in the treatment of BMS. This paper will review the evidence-based treatment of BMS and discuss what we need to do.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.147-153
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• 2019

Purpose: The aims of this study were to investigate the expectation of patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS) and assess the relationship between patient expectations and clinical and psychological characteristics. Methods: Eligibility was retrospectively assessed on 93 patients with BMS. A total of five questionnaires on patients' expectation for a visit, pain, sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), cognition (Pain Catastrophizing Scale) and psychological distress (Symptom Checklist-90 revised) were measured. Results: Sixty-five patients were included in this study. The top 3 priorities of expectation for a treatment visit to the Department of Oral Medicine were as following; "I want my pain to be free"; "I want to understand why it hurts"; "I want to communicate better with doctors about pain". Patients with priority of pain relief showed poor sleep quality than patients who are more interested in the disease related information. Conclusions: To improve treatment outcomes of BMS, clinicians should improve their own understanding of patients who are suffering from BMS. Inquiring about the patient expectations may be one of them, and it would contribute to the enhancement of patients' overall well-being.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.3-9
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• 2015

The etiopathogenesis of burning mouth syndrome (BMS) seems to be complex and many patients probably involves interactions among local, systemic, and/or psychological factors in the pathophysiologic mechanism. Although there are controversies over whether the psychological factor is a cause or a result of BMS, several studies have supported strong relationships between psychological factors and chronic pain. It has been suggested that somatic complaints from unfavorable life experiences may influence both individual personality and mood changes; however, initiation of BMS symptoms is not necessarily correlated with stressful life events despite their elevated psychological stress. If the psychological distress is not a causal factor of BMS, it seems that BMS patients may be particularly vulnerable to psychological problems, primarily depression, anxiety, and hostility due to the characteristic entities of BMS such as chronic persistent pain itself. It seems likely that both physiological and psychological factors play a role in causing, perpetuating and/or exacerbating BMS; therefore, both two components of the patient's symptoms must be addressed. The acceptance of psychological factors by the patient is often an important element of BMS, management. The evaluation of psychological and emotional status of BMS patient enables clinicians to recognize prolonged negative and subclinical factors which can complicate the management of pain or indirectly perpetuate other physical factors. This evaluation improves the doctor-patient relationships, motivation, and compliance through a correct understanding of the clinical problem. Appropriate emotional and psychological evaluation may be required prior to developing a treatment plan in order to gain the successful treatment outcome.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.122-133
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• 2013

Objectives : Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is characterized by chronic pain or a burning sensation in the mouth. There is limited evidence available to provide clear guidelines for treating BMS patients and a variety of different treatments have been used. This study was designed to investigate the Effects of Korean medicine therapies on oral pain in patients with BMS. Methods : We surveyed 30 BMS patients who newly visited the Oral Diseases Clinic in the Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital from February 2012 to March 2013. When the patients visited the clinic for the first time, they were evaluated on sociodemographic characteristics, BMS questionnaire, severity of pain using visual analogue scale (VAS) and pressure pain threshold (PPT) of the acupuncture point CV17. After 3 weeks of Korean medicine therapies (acupuncture, electroacupuncture, pharmacopuncture and herbal medicine), they were re-evaluated with the VAS and the PPT. Results : After 3 weeks of Korean medicine therapies, 30 patients' oral pain improved and the PPT score on CV17 rose, which means decrease of qi-stagnation score. Conclusions : Korean medicine therapies were effective on oral pain in patients with BMS. To confirm the additional curative effect and evaluate the efficacy of each treatment, well-designed randomized controlled trials will be needed in the future.