Review article of Burning mouth syndrome (BMS)

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic burning pain, usually in the absence of clinical and laboratory findings. The prevalence of this disorder in the general population is estimated to be 1% to 15%. It particularly affects the middle-aged persons, and women are involved 7 times more frequency than men especially after menopause. BMS patients complain from moderate to severe burning sensation that can effect on their life quality. There has been no clear consensus on its etiology. Most often patients with inexplicable oral complaints are referred from one health care professional to another without effective management. This approach cause significant emotional impact on patients. Although information about treatment modality of BMS remains limited, the present article provides update information about BMS, including possible etiological factors, Pathophysiology and current treatment choices. Review Articles: Literature was searched Medline, Elseveier, Embase, and Cochrane Library from 1986 to 2008. Any articles in English (clinical trials, cross sectional, longitudinal and epidemiological studies) were included. Meanwhile, theses for the degree of DDS in Shahid Beheshti and Azad dental faculties about BMS and textbooks were reviewed thoroughly. Although BMS is of unknown etiology but various local, psychological and systemic factors can trigger or exacerbate this disorder. Systemic or local drugs may be mandatory to treat BMS. It is important to resolve any risk factor or cognitive-behavior therapy in management of BMS. Appropriate diagnosis is necessary for management of BMS and several treatment protocols should be used simultaneously to improve pain and burning.