• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.145-159
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• 2024

Dental injections are routinely performed and can result in pain and anxiety in patients. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) in dental injections for pain management in patients undergoing dental treatment. Indexed databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Cochrane Library, were electronically searched without a time limit up to February 2024. A risk of bias evaluation was performed using the Cochrane tool. A preliminary investigation using electronic and manual methods yielded 4,920,881 manuscripts. Based on the eligibility requirements, 13 randomized control trials (RCTs) were included. Self-assessed pain was determined using the visual analog scale, Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Controllability scale, or Wong-Baker face pain scale. Eight RCTs demonstrated a notable decrease in needle pain in patients undergoing dental needle injections using PBMT. Based on current evidence, PBMT may help reduce needle pain related to dental anesthesia. Further standardized studies are needed to assess the significance of PBMT for postoperative pain in patients undergoing dental injections.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.215-219
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• 2013

The descending control system is composed of a group of structures in the midbrain, medulla oblongata and pons that form a network of descending inhibitory projections. In the clinical setting, it has been shown that the application of a electrical counterirritant to these structures and diminishes the pain in patients. Thus, depression and anxiety have been shown to predict the development of chronic neuropathic pain state. These factors could influence pain might also involve descending controls. Interestingly, reduced descending controls are seen in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and theses patients had greater anxiety, depression compared to controls. And, the influence of anxiety on the chronicity of pain and on the descending control pathways should be tested in animal models, using modern techniques. Given this Knowledge, it is no wonder that pain is a highly personal experience that is susceptible to a variety of biologic, pharmacologic, and environmental influences.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.26-29
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• 2016

Intramuscular hemangioma is a rare type of hemangiomas and sometimes overlooked by orofacial pain specialist who encountered various types of masticatory muscle problems. A 42-year-old male, presented with feeling of unilateral hypertrophy on left mandibular area, is finally diagnosed as hemangioma with thrombus by excisional biopsy. However, he was initially treated by injection of botulinum toxin A due to misdiagnosis as unilateral masseter hypertrophy. In the present report, we remind the importance of careful examination and diagnostic images to orofacial pain clinicians in early detection of intramuscular hemangioma of masticatory muscles.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2006

As migraine pain represents a substantial personal and social burden worldwide, there has been a great deal of effort in developing a screening instrument for migraine. Lipton et al(2003) developed and validated the ID Migraine questionnaire, which is a self-administered screener for migraine in primary care, and it is brief and easy to use for a primary care provider. The aim of this study was to determine if the ID Migraine questionnaire could be applied successfully to assess the headache patients with temporomandibular disorders(TMD) and orofacial pain. This study found that nausea, photophobia and headache-related disability had the highest individual sensitivities and specificities, and the performance of the three-item screener was equivalent to that reported in a previous study. Although the sensitivity of the three-item screener in this study (0.58) was lower than in a previous study (0.81), the specificity (0.98) was higher and the positive predictive value was 93.9%. This suggest that the ID Migraine questionnaire is very efficient in this setting. In conclusion, the ID Migraine questionnaire, which is a three-item screener consisting of nausea, photophobia and headache-related disability, is effective as a self-administered report for detecting migraine headaches in patients with temporomandibular disorders(TMD) and orofacial pain.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.365-374
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• 2021

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) plays a role in various cellular phenomena, including autophagy, cell proliferation, and differentiation. Although recent studies have reported its involvement in nociceptive responses in several pain models, whether mTOR is involved in orofacial pain processing is currently unexplored. This study determined whether rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, reduces nociceptive responses and the number of Fos-immunoreactive (Fos-ir) cells in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC) in a mouse orofacial formalin model. We also examined whether the glial cell expression and phosphorylated p38 (p-p38) mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in the TNC are affected by rapamycin. Mice were intraperitoneally given rapamycin (0.1, 0.3, or 1.0 mg/kg); then, 30 min after, 5% formalin (10 μl) was subcutaneously injected into the right upper lip. The rubbing responses with the ipsilateral forepaw or hindpaw were counted for 45 min. High-dose rapamycin (1.0 mg/kg) produced significant antinociceptive effects in both the first and second phases of formalin test. The number of Fos-ir cells in the ipsilateral TNC was also reduced by high-dose rapamycin compared with vehicle-treated animals. Furthermore, the number of p-p38-ir cells the in ipsilateral TNC was significantly decreased in animals treated with high-dose rapamycin; p-p38 expression was co-localized in microglia, but not neurons and astrocytes. Therefore, the mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin, reduces orofacial nociception and Fos expression in the TNC, and its antinociceptive action on orofacial pain may be associated with the inhibition of p-p38 MAPK in the microglia.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.49-55
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• 2020

Purpose: This study investigated the association between the objective indicator of masticatory function assessment and the masseter muscle thickness (MMT) using ultrasound imaging. Methods: A total of 99 subjects (males: 24, females: 75, mean age: 76) were analyzed. The maximum bite force (MBF) was measured with a pressure-sensitive sheet and an image scanner. The mixing ability index (MAI) was calculated by image analysis after asking the subjects to chew a wax specimen. The MMT during rest and clenching were obtained with a diagnostic ultrasound system, and the difference in MMT during rest and MMT during clenching was defined as the difference in masseter muscle thickness (DMMT). Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the independent variables affecting MBF and MAI. Results: The MBF showed correlation with the number of remaining teeth (β=0.346, p=0.002) and DMMT (β=0.251, p=0.011). The MAI correlated with only the number of remaining teeth (β=0.476, p<0.001). Conclusions: The DMMT reflects the state of masseter muscle contraction, and can be used as a predictor as well as the number of teeth when assessing masticatory function.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.189-193
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• 2012

Oral pigmentation has numerous etiologies. It can be associated with congenital diseases and syndromes, certain acquired diseases, and systemic medications. Pigmented lesions caused by serious disease such as melanoma should be diagnosed correctly, because it would be fatal. For appropriate differential diagnosis, clinicians should know about the etiologies causing oral pigmentation and take patients history carefully. Biopsies would be necessary for histopathological findings. Close follow up for clinical symptoms are also necessary. In this case report, we presented a case of oral hyperpigmentation in Asian patient who was receiving pegylated interferon and ribavirin combination therapy for hepatitis C virus infection.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.63-71
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• 2015

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between headache and sleep by evaluating sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and specific features related to sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Methods: One hundred one subjects with headache and 118 healthy controls were enrolled. To collect various information on headache attacks, headache group completed self-reported questionnaire about the characteristics of headache attacks and the migraine disability assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire. The subjective quality of sleep was evaluated in all of the subjects using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS). In addition, the following specific features of sleep were evaluated in 28 subjects selected randomly from each group: apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), prevalence of SDB, nocturnal oxygen saturation (SaO2), and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) as measured using a portable monitoring device. Results: The global PSQI and the prevalence of poor sleeping (global PSQI >5), ESS scores and the prevalence of daytime sleepiness (ESS score >10) were significantly higher in the headache group (both p<0.0001, respectively). The mean scores on the numerical rating scale and the MIDAS were significantly higher in the poor-sleeper group than in the good-sleeper group (p=0.0347 and p=0.0016, respectively). The global PQSI and prevalence of daytime sleepiness were significantly higher in the chronic-headache group than in the acute-headache group (p=0.0003 and p=0.0312, respectively). Conclusions: There is a significant association between headache and sleep. Especially, severity and chronicity of headache were significantly associated with sleep quality and daytime sleepiness.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.131-135
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• 2021

Purpose: Depression is a condition that weakens psychosocial functioning and reduces quality of life. In Korea, the prevalence of depression among the elderly is 29.2% and depression is a considerable public health concern for the elderly. Depression has a statistically significant relationship with oral conditions such as number of teeth and salivary flow rate. Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is the concept including subjective evaluations of psychological, physical and social aspects of oral health. Tooth loss and hyposalivation can affect mental health and quality of life. Our study was designed to identify the relationship among the number of teeth, salivation, OHRQoL, and depressive symptoms in the elderly in Korea. Methods: We recruited 100 participants, aged over 65 years, and assessed their number of teeth, unstimulated salivary flow rate. All participants filled out oral health impact profile 14 (OHIP-14) and Zung self-rating depression score (SDS) for checking OHRQoL and depressive symptoms. Statistical analysis was done by R program. Results: We found that the positive relationship between OHIP-14 and SDS after Mann-Whitney test (p=0.03). The lower SDS group had an OHIP-14 median score of 4. On the other hand, the higher SDS group had a median value of 7.5. The other factors (number of teeth and salivary flow rate) did not show correlations with OHIP-14 or SDS. Conclusions: OHRQoL and depressive symptoms have significant correlation.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2023

This report presents the case of a 14-year-old male with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in both temporomandibular joints (TMJs), in whom a bone scan and laboratory tests were used to confirm the diagnosis. The patient visited the Department of Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine at the affiliation hospital with a complaint of a 1-year history of bilateral TMJ pain and sound. Clinical examination revealed bilateral TMJ and masseter muscle pain during mouth opening and palpation. Radiological examination revealed no significant morphological changes in either TMJ. The patient was prescribed medications at the first visit to address the pain, inflammation, and stiffness. A bone scan and laboratory tests were planned/scheduled for differential diagnosis between simple arthralgia and osteoarthritis. The bone scan revealed increased radiotracer uptake in both TMJs. The laboratory tests revealed a RA factor of 82.4 IU/mL, which is more than four times the normal range. The final diagnoses were bilateral TMJ early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. We created a stabilization splint and referred the patient to the Department of Rheumatology for further evaluation of the ERA. After fitting of the stabilization splint and giving instructions regarding its use, the patient has been receiving monthly follow-up checks for symptoms and undergoes follow-up blood tests every 3 months. About 14 months after the initial visit, the pain had significantly decreased from a Visual Analog Scale score of 5 to 1, and the RA factor decreased to 66.6 IU/mL. A regular follow-up check will continue until the end of growth.