Idiopathic Orofacial Pain

Question 1

What are the 3 types of idiopathic orofacial pain?

Answer 1

• Persistent idiopathic facial pain.
• Persistent idiopathic dentoalveolar pain.
• Burning mouth syndrome.

Question 2

Are idiopathic orofacial conditions unilateral or bilateral? What part of the head and neck do they affect?

Answer 2

• Can be UNILATERAL or BILATERAL.
• They can be INTRAORAL or FACIAL.
• Affects the distributions of ONE OR MORE BRANCHES OF THE TRIGEMINAL.

Question 3

What are the general characteristics (4) of the pain experienced from idiopathic orofacial pain?

Answer 3

• Persistent.
• MODERATE intensity.
• POORLY LOCALIZED!
• DULL/PRESSING/BURNING pain.

Question 4

2 diagnostic criteria regarding pain duration for idiopathic orofacial pain?

Answer 4

• DAILY pain.
• pain lasts for MORE THAN 2 HOURS for OVER 3 MONTHS.

Question 5

What is the role of the GDP in treating orofacial pain?

Answer 5

• Good pain history.
• Exclude dental causes.
• Check cranial nerves.
• Reassure.
• Suggest self management strategies.
• Refer.

Question 6

What is burning mouth syndrome?

Answer 6

• Intraoral BURNING/ DYSASTHETIC SENSATION.
• Occurs DAILY.
• LAsts for more than 2 hours for more than 3 months.
• BURNING pain felt SUPERFICIALLY in ORAL MUCOSA.

Question 7

What sites does burning mouth syndrome affect?

Answer 7

Tongue (with or without palate and lips).

Question 8

What local causes must be ruled out to give a burning mouth syndrome diagnosis? (4)

Answer 8

• Gord
• Dry mouth
• Candidiosis
• Parafunctional habits

Question 9

What systemic causes must be ruled out to give a burning mouth syndrome diagnosis? (6)

Answer 9

• Anemia
• Hematinic deficiency
• Zinc deficiency
• Diabetes
• Thyroid disfunction
• ACE inhibitors

Question 10

What medicament can be prescribed by the dentist and potentially help with burning mouth syndrome?

Answer 10

Benzydamine mouthwash or oromucosal spray.