Multidisciplinary Therapeutic Proposal to Burning Mouth Syndrome

Objectives: Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) is defined as the generalized or localized burning sensation in the oral cavity. It is a symptom where the mucous membranes of the oral cavity are apparently not affected. Its etiology is unknown and complex, since it is associated with multiple systemic and local factors that can be related to each other to cause it. Different types of therapeutics have been applied in this syndrome and, through this study, a multidisciplinary treatment model is proposed.

Methods: Prospective cohort study was carried out. 24 patients with a BMS diagnosis who attended the Stomatology services of the Faculties of Dentistry of Universidad de Buenos Aires, Cartagena and Norte were studied; their signs, symptoms and evolution were evaluated before the multidisciplinary intervention. The treatment was applied to the patients according to the symptomatology and observed lesions; clinical assessments were made determining the changes in the estimate of oral burning and present stomatological lesions. The data was analyzed with descriptive statistics for quantitative and qualitative variables. Results were expressed as percentage and frequency.

Results: Of the 24 patients, 20 were women and 4 men; the age of patients ranged from 50 to 80 years; the type of BMS that predominated was type II in 17 patients (70.8); in 23 patients (95.8%), the tongue was the site where ardor was most frequently found; depression, anxiety attacks, family losses, gastritis or gastric ulcers are the most frequent systemic conditions in patients with oral burning; the oral burning evolved favorably in 100% of the patients after applying the suggested protocol.

Conclusions: Patients with BMS require appropriate multidisciplinary therapy to directly improve their quality of life. There were no complications in the treatments applied to the patients according to the model, thus the proposed multidisciplinary management model is beneficial in the oral health of patients with BMS.