Sleep quality and psychosocial characteristics of patients with painful post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathies.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore how pain and psychological distress influence the sleep quality of patients with painful post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathy (PPTN).

Study Design: Thirty-two patients with a diagnosis of PPTN according to the International Classification for Headache Disorders of the International Headache Society were enrolled. All patients completed a number of questionnaires that examined sleep quality, psychological distress, and quality of life.

Prevalence of neuropathic pain and sensory alterations after dental implant placement in a university-based oral surgery department: A retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and the clinical features of patients with neuropathic pain and sensory alterations after dental implant placement.

Background: Literature is very scarce concerning the prevalence of neuropathic pain after dental implant placement.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective cohort study was made in patients submitted to dental implant placement in the Dental Hospital of the University of Barcelona.

The use of low level laser therapy in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders. Review of the literature.

Introduction: The temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) have been identified as the most important cause of pain in the facial region. The low level laser therapy (LLLT) has demonstrated to have an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and biostimulating effects. The LLLT is a noninvasive, quick and safe, non-pharmaceutical intervention that may be beneficial for patients with TMDs.

Use of autologous conditioned serum (Orthokine) for the treatment of the degenerative osteoarthritis of the temporomandibular joint. Review of the literature.

Objectives: Treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) using autologous conditioned serum (ACS) has become in recent years an alternative to consider in the approach of the degenerative joint disease of the knee. There is no support in the literature for the use of ACS for the treatment of OA of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), although the promising results obtained in human patients with knee joint disease and in animal studies are opening the way for its use at the TMJ. The aim of this paper is to conduct a review of the published literature regarding the use of the ACS for the treatment of OA in humans, considering the level of scientific evidence, and following the principles of the evidence-based medicine and dentistry.

Atypical odontalgia: a systematic review following the evidence-based principles of dentistry.

Atypical odontalgia (AO) is a severe and persistent pain involving controversial pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical management. Presented here is a systematic review of the literature on AO, using the SORT criteria (Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy) to assess the level of evidence and the quality of randomized clinical trials (RCT). A total of 54 articles were obtained of which 34 belonged to level 3 evidence, 17 to level 2, and 3 to level 1.

Antiepileptic drugs for the treatment of neuropathic pain: a systematic review.

Many therapies have been proposed for the management of neuropathic pain, and they include the use of different antiepileptic drugs. However, the lack of high quality studies indicates that results on the different neuropathic disorders under study do not recommend a particular drug treatment. This study makes a systematic review of the published literature on the use of several antiepileptic drugs to treat neuropathic pain, and has the objective of considering both its clinical characteristics and pharmacological use, which will depend on their level of scientific evidence and will follow the principles of evidence-based dentistry.

Bifid mandibular condyle: a disorder in its own right?

Background: The authors present six cases of mandibular condyle malformation. They also conducted a literature review of bifid mandibular condyle (BMC) to analyze the various hypotheses that have been made regarding the etiopathogenesis of this entity. Type of Studies Reviewed.

Myofascial pain associated to trigger points: a literature review. Part 2: differential diagnosis and treatment.

During the last decades the advance in knowledge of myofascial pain has been constant in the medical and dental community. However, although several aspects have been clarified in relation to its epidemiology, clinical characteristics and etiopathogenesis, many uncertainties remain. Many clinical conditions are included in the differential diagnosis of myofascial pain associated to trigger points.

Scientific evidence on the usefulness of intraarticular hyaluronic acid injection in the management of temporomandibular dysfunction.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is found in high concentrations in cartilage and synovial fluid, and is an important component of the extracellular matrixes-exerting joint lubrication and buffering actions thanks to its viscoelastic properties. The present study examines the scientific evidence found in the current literature on the usefulness of the intraarticular injection of HA in patients with temporomandibular dysfunction. A literature search was made up until May 2008 in the following databases: PubMed / MEDLINE.

Myofascial pain syndrome associated with trigger points: a literature review. (I): Epidemiology, clinical treatment and etiopathogeny.

Over the last few decades, advances have been made in the understanding of myofascial pain syndrome epidemiology, clinical characteristics and aetiopathogenesis, but many unknowns remain. An integrated hypothesis has provided a greater understanding of the physiopathology of trigger points, which may allow the development of new diagnostic, and above all, therapeutic methods, as well as the establishment of prevention policies and protocols by the health profession. Nevertheless, randomized studies are needed to provide a better understanding and detection of the different factors involved in the origin of trigger points.

The use of tricyclic antidepressants in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders: systematic review of the literature of the last 20 years.

Many therapies have been proposed for the management of temporomandibular disorders, including the use of different drugs. However, lack of knowledge about the mechanisms behind the pain associated with this pathology, and the fact that the studies carried out so far use highly disparate patient selection criteria, mean that results on the effectiveness of the different medications are inconclusive. This study makes a systematic review of the literature published on the use of tricyclic antidepressants for the treatment of temporomandibular disorders, using the SORT criteria (Strength of recommendation taxonomy) to consider the level of scientific evidence of the different studies.

Use of amitriptyline for the treatment of chronic tension-type headache. Review of the literature.

Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant, considered the treatment of choice for different types of chronic pain, including chronic myofascial pain. Its antinociceptive property is independent of its antidepressant effect. Although its analgesic mechanism is not precisely known, it is believed that the serotonin reuptake inhibition in the central nervous system plays a fundamental role in pain control.

Nervus intermedius neuralgia: a case report.

Nervus intermedius neuralgia (NIN) is an uncommon disorder that affects a sensory branch of the facial nerve. This condition usually provokes a very intense and stabbing pain localized in the depth of the ear canal. Due to the close anatomical proximity, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pathologies should be included in the differential diagnosis.

Persistent idiopathic facial pain following dental implant placement: a case report.

The present case report depicts the management of a patient with persistent idiopathic facial pain following the placement of 2 dental implants in the mandibular anterior alveolar ridge. After 15 months of unsuccessful diagnosis and management, the patient was seen at the Orofacial Pain Unit of the Oral Surgery and Implantology master's degree program of the University of Barcelona. Seven months after treatment onset, a combination of nortriptyline, clonazepam, and relaxation procedures has successfully controlled the patient's facial pain symptoms.

Treatment of inferior lateral pterygoid muscle dystonia with zolpidem tartrate, botulinum toxin injections, and physical self-regulation procedures: a case report.

The following case report depicts the management of a patient suffering with a jaw opening oromandibular dystonia using a combination of botulinum toxin injections, zolpidem, and relaxation procedures. Eventually the botulinum toxin injections were eliminated, and the patient was maintained with only zolpidem and relaxation procedures.