Burning mouth syndrome: the relationship between the HAD scale and parafunctional habits.

This study investigated 84 patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS), who were asked to complete a hospital anxiety and depression (HAD) scale questionnaire. A control group of 69 patients was also included. All patients were interviewed regarding parafunctional habits and were subjectively examined for signs of occlusal wear of the natural teeth or dentures. The results demonstrated that parafunctional habits were present in 61% of patients with BMS. There was a statistically significantly relationship between parafunctional habits and anxiety as indicated by the HAD scale, but not with depression.

Lip component of burning mouth syndrome.

To our knowledge there has been no previous study of factors specifically involved in the pathogenesis of patients who complain of burning sensation of the lips when the lips appear clinically normal. The complaint is akin to patients who complain of a burning sensation of the mouth when it appears clinically normal, a condition known as burning mouth syndrome. This study therefore studied precipitating factors in patients with burning mouth syndrome who reported lip involvement. Previous studies have shown that the lips are the third most common site reported as involved in patients who have burning mouth syndrome. Indeed patients with burning mouth syndrome often report multiple oral site involvement. To investigate the precipitating factors involved in the lip component of burning mouth syndrome, we studied 104 patients who reported the lips as a site affected by the condition from a total population of 312 patients with burning mouth syndrome. Hematologic, biochemical, and microbiologic parameters were studied in these patients. Sialometry, patch testing, psychological testing, and examination of denture status as well as questioning of parafunctional habits were also undertaken. No clear differences were noted in relationship to the frequency of abnormalities in burning mouth syndrome alone or burning mouth syndrome with lip involvement suggesting that similar precipitating factors apply. The precipitating factors in patients with lip involvement were found to be the same as burning mouth syndrome in general. Treatment of patients with lip involvement alone in burning mouth syndrome or lip involvement in burning mouth syndrome in conjunction with other intraoral sites gave an equally good response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Type 3 burning mouth syndrome: psychological and allergic aspects.

A subgroup of patients with burning mouth syndrome was investigated. The clinical history of these patients differed from the norm in that symptoms were intermittent and affected unusual sites. In addition, routine investigations were supplemented with a more detailed psychological evaluation than reported previously and also a possible allergic component was studied by patch testing. The study has shown that this subgroup differs from burning mouth syndrome patients overall in that emotional instability and allergic reactions, particularly to food additives, are of etiological significance and require to be taken into consideration in terms of patient management.

Oral carriage of Candida species and coliforms in patients with burning mouth syndrome.

The oral carriage of Candida species and coliforms in a healthy adult population and a group of patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS) was investigated. The intra-oral prevalence of Candida species and coliforms was higher in the BMS group compared with the controls. The most frequent yeast isolated from the BMS group was Candida albicans while Enterobacter and Klebsiella species were the most prevalent coliforms. The possible reasons and the significance of the above findings are discussed.

The usefulness of the HAD scale in assessing anxiety and depression in patients with burning mouth syndrome.

A recent index of anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) was applied to 74 patients with burning mouth syndrome. The scale pointed to anxiety, more than depression, being a feature of burning mouth syndrome. The validity and clinical application of this scale to assess anxiety and depression in such patients are discussed.

Prospective study of aetiological factors in burning mouth syndrome.

A prospective study of 150 consecutive patients with burning mouth syndrome and with a minimum follow up period of 18 months is reported. Factors related to dentures, to vitamin B complex deficiency, and to psychological abnormalities were found to be important, and undiagnosed diabetes mellitus, reduced salivary gland function, haematological deficiencies, candidal infection, parafunctional habits, and allergy might also play a part. Given a protocol for management which takes all these factors into account, some two thirds of patients can be cured or have their symptoms improved.