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. 2013 May 1;18(3):e403-10.
doi: 10.4317/medoral.18142.

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

Eugenia Rodríguez-de Rivera-Campillo  1 , José López-López
Affiliations

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

Eugenia Rodríguez-de Rivera-Campillo et al. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. .

Abstract

Objective: the aim of this study is to investigate the clinical evolution, the spontaneous remission of the symptomatology and the response to different treatments in a group of burning mouth syndrome patients.

Study design: the sample was formed by a group of patients that were visited in the Unit of Oral Medicine of the Dentistry Clinic of the University of Barcelona, from the year 2000 to 2011. After revising the clinical records of all the patients that had been under control for a period of time of 18 months or longer, they were contacted by telephone. In the telephone interview, they were questioned about the symptomatology evolution and the response to the treatments received, noting down the data in a questionnaire previously performed.

Results: the average duration of the symptoms was 6.5 years (+/-2.5 years). The most frequent treatments were: chlorhexidine mouthrinses, oral benzodiazepines, topical clonazepam, antiinflamatory drugs, antidepressants, antifungicals, vitamins, psycotherapy, salivary substitutes and topical corticoids. The specialists that were consulted with a higher frequency were: dermatologists (30%), othorrynolaringologists (10%) and psychiatrists (3%). In 41 patients the oral symptoms did not improve, 35 reported partial improvements, 12 patients worsened, and only in 3 patients the symptoms remitted.

Conclusions: In three of the 91 patients studied the symptoms remitted spontaneously within the five years of treatment. Only 42% of the study population had improved the symptomatology significantly, and this improvement would reach 60% if clonazepam were associated to psychotherapy.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Data referring to the clínical situation of the patients. (*) It refers to the total for each of the clinical behaviours. Bear in mind that every patient is usually under more than one treatment at any one time.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Correlation between symptomatology and the medication used. (*) It refers to the total for each of the clinical behaviours. Bear in mind that every patient is usually under more than one treatment at any one time.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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