[Functional somatic syndrome in dental practice]

Abstract

Functional somatic syndromes (FSSs) are common in dental as well as medical practice. Many patients with unexplained symptoms in oro-maxillo-facial areas visit dentists, but they are not diagnosed and treated properly. Temporomandibular disorder, atypical facial pain, and glossodynia (burning mouth syndrome) are included in dental FSSs. These diseases overlap with each other and with FSSs in other organs, such as myofacial pain syndrome, tension-type headache, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome. They coexist with mental disorders, such as anxiety disorder, mood disorder, and somatoform disorder. Multidisciplinary and holistic approaches should be applied to dental FSSs; pharmacological therapy (antidepressants), physical therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Clinicians have to support a patient in"enjoying his/her life with symptoms". Dental specialists in "oral medicine" with psychosomatic viewpoints are now required.