ABSTRACT
To evaluate the effect of cigarette smoking (CS) on pain intensity in a sample of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients, 352 clinical charts were reviewed. Subjects were first divided into two groups: smokers (YS) and nonsmokers (NS); then, YS were further divided into three subgroups: light smokers (LS), moderate smokers (MS), and heavy smokers (HS). Overall TMD pain intensity was higher in YS, compared to NS, and a correlation was found between pain intensity and the number of cigarettes smoked in a day by each subject. A significant difference was evident between NS and HS. The results were not evident in males; age was not correlated either with smoking or pain intensity, and the effect of CS on pain intensity was not correlated with any particular TMD diagnosis. CS seems to be a relevant factor affecting the intensity of TMD pain, thus, control of smoking habits should be considered when treating TMD patients.
Subject(s)
Pain Measurement , Smoking/physiopathology , Temporomandibular Joint Disorders/physiopathology , Adult , Arthralgia/physiopathology , Facial Pain/physiopathology , Female , Humans , Joint Dislocations/physiopathology , Male , Middle Aged , Osteoarthritis/physiopathology , Pilot Projects , Retrospective Studies , Sex Factors , Temporomandibular Joint Disc/pathology , Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome/physiopathology , Young AdultABSTRACT
Smoking is a prevalent behavior with severe health consequences. Various smoking cessation methods that are available to dentists include nicotine replacement therapies, other pharmacological agents, and biobehavioral therapies. This article presents a smoking cessation protocol that can be carried out as part of routine oral care.
Subject(s)
Dental Care , Patient Education as Topic , Smoking Cessation/methods , Clinical Protocols , Counseling , Decision Trees , Humans , Practice Patterns, Dentists'ABSTRACT
This case report presents a patient with chronic orofacial pain who was considered to be an appropriate candidate for chronic opioid therapy, a treatment uncommonly considered at most facial pain centers. Her opioid treatment proved ineffectual, and conservative approaches were addressed. She was successfully tapered off the use of a long-acting opioid within a relatively short time, using an interdisciplinary approach involving an aggressive biobehavioral approach.