Complementary and Integrative Medicine for the Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia and Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgia.

Purpose Of Review: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs) are both painful diseases which directly impact the branches of the trigeminal nerve, which supply the face. Patients who have experienced adverse effects, have not responded to mainstream treatments, or have a personal preference for nonmedication options, often turn to complementary and integrative medicine (CIM). The aim of this review is to discuss the efficacy and safety of CIM therapies available for the treatment of TN and TACs.

The Exploration of Cannabis and Cannabinoid Therapies for Migraine.

Purpose Of Review: There is increasing interest in the use of cannabis and cannabinoid therapies (CCT) by the general population and among people with headache disorders, which results in a need for healthcare professionals to be well versed with the efficacy and safety data. In this manuscript, we review cannabis and cannabinoid terminology, the endocannabinoid system and its role in the central nervous system (CNS), the data on efficacy, safety, tolerability, and potential pitfalls associated with use in people with migraine and headache disorders. We also propose possible mechanisms of action in headache disorders and debunk commonly held myths about its use.

Effect of cigarette smoking on pain intensity of TMD patients: a pilot study.

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.

Smoking cessation in the dental setting: a practical approach.

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.

Tapering chronic opioid therapy in neuropathic facial pain: an interdisciplinary approach.

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.